Düsseldorf court overturns acquittal of Palestine activist

The Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf has overturned the acquittal of pro-Palestinian activist Leon Wystrychowski. The court has referred the case back to the Duisburg District Court for further proceedings.

Wystrychowski, who served as the organizer of a pro-Palestinian rally in Duisburg on October 9, 2023, was originally acquitted by the Duisburg District Court. That court ruled that the slogans used during the event, including ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ and ‘From Duisburg to Gaza, yalla Intifada’, did not constitute an approval of war crimes against Israeli civilians.

The prosecution appealed the decision, leading to the current revision process. During the proceedings, the Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor's Office adjusted its legal strategy, shifting focus from the inherent criminality of the slogans to their temporal proximity to the events of October 7.