The EU sanctioned me and my media outlet for covering Palestine protests in Germany. It’s part of Europe’s growing authoritarianism and militarism, cloaked in language of fighting disinformation and defending democracy.
by Hüseyin Dogru
Part 2 - How the EU uses anti-Russian hysteria to smear Palestine solidarity journalism
The official rationale for sanctioning me hinges on red.’s alleged links to Russian influence. The EU sanctions listing cited just two pieces of “evidence”: that some red. staff had previously worked for Russian-funded media, and that we covered “politically controversial subjects” – specifically: Palestine. That’s it.
The listing accuses me, through my work with red., of “facilitating violent demonstrations”, amplifying “radical Islamic terrorist narratives” and claims our staff “coordinated with occupiers”. Not a single piece of evidence is cited, apart from the fact that we published footage of a pro-Palestine student occupation in Berlin. In other words, we did journalism. But in the EU’s framing, that journalism created “discord” in a member state.
Because the EU also paints Russia’s agenda as destabilising, it takes just one cynical leap to equate our Palestine coverage with supporting Russian destabilisation of Europe. One plus one equals five.
The listing accuses me, through my work with red., of “facilitating violent demonstrations”, amplifying “radical Islamic terrorist narratives” and claims our staff “coordinated with occupiers”. Not a single piece of evidence is cited, apart from the fact that we published footage of a pro-Palestine student occupation in Berlin. In other words, we did journalism. But in the EU’s framing, that journalism created “discord” in a member state.
Because the EU also paints Russia’s agenda as destabilising, it takes just one cynical leap to equate our Palestine coverage with supporting Russian destabilisation of Europe. One plus one equals five.
This absurd and dangerous narrative originated in the German media landscape, which has become globally exceptional in its unconditional support for Israel as it commits atrocity after atrocity in Palestine. Ironically, the same media outlets who fuelled the smear campaign against red. have accused us of practices they themselves adopt.
The German outlet taz, which has published genocide denying features and justifications for the systematic murder of Palestinian journalists, was at the forefront of accusing us of Russian collusion based on the CVs of some of our staff. taz itself has received German state funding through a foundation headed by a former employee of RT’s subsidiary Ruptly, a fact taz conceals on its website. The hypocrisy is staggering – but the logic is clear: accusations of “disinformation” flow one way.
The German outlet taz, which has published genocide denying features and justifications for the systematic murder of Palestinian journalists, was at the forefront of accusing us of Russian collusion based on the CVs of some of our staff. taz itself has received German state funding through a foundation headed by a former employee of RT’s subsidiary Ruptly, a fact taz conceals on its website. The hypocrisy is staggering – but the logic is clear: accusations of “disinformation” flow one way.
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