German chancellor candidate calls for ban on Hamas flag

Armin Laschet, the top Christian Democrat (CDU) bidding to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor, on Thursday called for the Hamas flag to be banned.

This was as a result of series of anti-Israel demonstrations that have seen violent clashes with police.

Laschet, the state Premier, North Rhine Westphalia, said the flag of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was banned while that of Hamas was not, even though both are classified as terrorist organisations by the EU.

He was addressing the state parliament in Duesseldorf during a debate on the anti-Semitic disturbances seen on the streets of German cities, including the state capital, since the latest round of hostilities began in the Middle East.

“Therefore this flag, which represents terrorism, must also be prohibited. It should not be allowed to be shown on German streets,” he said.

The Hamas flag has been waved regularly during the demonstrations.

Laschet accused Hamas, which dominates life in the Gaza Strip, of turning its residents “into hostages for their terrorist activities.”

German cities have seen repeated demonstrations over recent days, with many leading figures expressing outrage at anti-Israeli – and what they see as anti-Semitic – sentiment.

In Dusseldorf itself, an Israeli flag was burnt in front of the city hall a week ago. Similar incidents have taken place across Germany.

The president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, has issued a call for anti-Semitism to be opposed.

According to him, “we expect citizens to stand up against this anti-Semitism! And loudly and publicly.”