Police Intervention Against Christian Praying and Holing Bible at Brandenburg Gate
A video recorded at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate raises concerns about interference with the right to freely manifest one's religion after police officers told a Christian he could not pray at the site because it was "not a place for praying" and "not a church". Although the Christian was quietly reading from his Bible and praying without using amplification or engaging passers-by, officers treated his conduct as a demonstration because he was publicly holding a Bible. The incident raises questions about the understanding of religious freedom among law enforcement officers and the protection of peaceful religious expression in public spaces.
According to a video, originally published on Instagram on May 5, a Christian who identifies himself as "Giorgi" and other Christians were quietly praying and reading from the Bible at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate without using amplification, approaching passers-by or otherwise interacting with the public when they were approach by police officers. The police officers repeatedly told Giorgi that he could not pray there because it was "not a place for praying" and "not a church" or other religious building. The officer also questioned why the group had chosen such a prominent public location, suggesting they were there to attrackt attention.
The police further treated the activity as a demonstration because Giorgi was publicly holding a Bible. When Giorgi explained that he was "reading the Bible while praying" and asked, "Is there freedom of religion?", the officer nevertheless insisted that he was "demonstrating" because he was carrying what the officer referred to as "the religious sign." Giorgi rejected this characterisation, replying: "I'm not holding a sign. I'm holding the word of God [bible], sir."
The video caption further stated that police "were trying to arrest" the Christians. However, no details were provided sustaining an arrest attempt.
The officers' repeated statements that the Brandenburg Gate was "not a place for praying" because it was "not a church" raise concerns about the understanding of freedom of religion among public authorities.
Neither the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) nor the European Convention confines religious practice to places of worship. On the contrary, both protect the peaceful public manifestation of religion, including prayer and the visible display of religious symbols, provided that any restrictions meet the strict requirements established under human rights law.
The video raises concerns about religious illiteracy among police officers, potentially resulting in undue restrictions on the peaceful manifestation of religion in public spaces.
Source: Instagram