Five anti-arms trade activists accused of breaking into a facility owned by Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer in Germany have spent months in pretrial detention under highly restrictive conditions, according to their families and lawyers.
The activists, who are from Germany, Spain, Ireland and the UK, were arrested on 8 September following the alleged break-in to the premises of Elbit Systems in the southwestern German city of Ulm.
The group - Daniel Tatlow-Devally, Zo Hailu, Crow Tricks, Vi Kovarbasic and Leandra Rollo - are accused of damaging the building’s glass facade and smashing office equipment, including computers, screens and telephones.
In addition to charges of trespass and damage to property, the five are accused of “membership of a criminal organisation” - namely Palestine Action Germany - under Section 129 of the German penal code.
Governments need to start remembering one of the core tenants of over-policing: when everything is legal, nothing is illegal. Put another way: if they’re gonna throw the book at you for something comparatively minor, why not just go balls to the wall?
