this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2025
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Left Party MP Cansin Köktürk was thrown out of a German parliament plenary chamber on Wednesday for wearing a t-shirt with the word "Palestine" printed on it, a move deemed a political statement by the parliamentary leadership.

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner intervened during the session, reminding MPs that political messages on clothing are not permitted in the chamber.

While the Bundestag does not have a detailed dress code, its rules require MPs and visitors to dress "in keeping with the prestige" of the institution. Enforcement of this standard is left to the discretion of the session chair.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 19 hours ago

Can't have political statements in the place where we do politics.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

While the Bundestag does not have a detailed dress code, its rules require MPs and visitors to dress “in keeping with the prestige” of the institution.

So, there is no actual rule that she actually broke, unless we interpret the word "Palestine" to be not in keeping with the prestige of the Budestag. Are other country names or geographical regions also not in keeping with the prestige of the Bundestag? Like, when I visit can I not wear a shirt that says "Greece" on it? Or that says "Quebec" or "Antarctica"? Or is this is a special rule for country names that butthurt Germany's "staatsraison"?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

No political statements with clothing is established precedent and wearing a Palestine shirt today is a political statement. Greece? Currently, not really, no, don't see it. During the Greek debt crisis? Yes it would've been.

She's free to make a pro-Palestine speech, that's how political statements are supposed to be done in parliament. Occasionally there's stunts like these, and they always have the same outcome: A small amount of extra spotlight, then everyone forgets about it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Ok... What if her shirt said "Israel?"

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

Yes, but will you be removed for wearing that shirt?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 hours ago

Probably not, because six million Jews that died at the hands of the nazis but did not have anything to do with nazi Israel are somehow related regardless so they are eternally guilt tripped into enabling anything Zionism related.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

If she wore a Ukraine shirt (which would be based) or even an Israel shirt (which would not be based), it would have been handled differently. Hell apparently there is a history of members wearing soccer team shirts with no problems.

"The problem isn't the protests, it's what they're protesting." Macklemore

[–] [email protected] 6 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Why would you make that assumption? Its completely baseless and most likely untrue.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (2 children)

My assumption is based on two years of German authorities and institutions cracking down on pro-Palestinian voices. Somehow, each time there is some specific rule or sub-rule that is being invoked, but somehow it always ends up being a silencing of pro-Palestinian protest, activism, speech.

Why I would assume the worst of German institutions when it comes to pro-Palestinian stances? Here is the fuck why:

I have simply lost faith in German institutions on this matter.

To return to you the question: why would I NOT assume that German institutions would find some way to ratfuck with pro-Palestinian voices? On what exactly can I build a set of good faith assumptions on German benevolence on the matter? Because I see fucking nothing.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

why would I NOT assume that German institutions would find some way to ratfuck with pro-Palestinian voices?

I disagree with that generality, but I grant you the point, it's a valid assumption to make.

However:

Nothing about what you said supports the assumption that people with Ukraine T-shirts wouldn't get booted. They would be.


Overall this is a not exactly uncommon thing in the Bundestag: Break the rules to get thrown out to put the spotlight on something. In fact, without the "getting thrown out" part it wouldn't make sense to wear clothing with political meaning in the first place, as everyone would be doing it, and everyone would ignore it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

If Die Linke had any sense of political theatrics, if they had just a bit of Melenchon in their blood, they would all show up with TShirts of random countries, see what the fuck happens.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

see what the fuck happens

Spoiler: They would get kicked out all the same.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I highly doubt that. Is there a prior precedent for this? What if you wore a flag pin?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

Flag pins have historically been accepted and I doubt it would've been an issue in this case. The rule is basically just there so you're not openly promoting anything, be it a political message, brand or any other type of statement.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

You said a Ukraine shirt would not have been treated the same. Thats what I was asking about. Nothing you wrote supports that point

When it happens, youre welcome to get upset and you should be. But until then Im glad they are at least enforcing the rules that are in place like they are intended and dont start making up their own arbitrary rules giving no fucks about democracy like in fascist US.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Just to say it, but both the far right AFD and tankie BSW got into trouble for holding up signs in the Bundestag. Allowing t-shirts with prints would be such an obvious loophole around that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 hours ago

No prints allowed? Like, at all? Else, next time they should wear one with just a watermelon.

Or.. Even better, just go in and have a watermelon slice with you, in a tupper. Open it and have it there on the table :)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 21 hours ago

PoLiTiCaL sTaTeMeNt

I thought about spelling this onomatopoeically as it would sound with Bibi's dick in their mouth but I'm lazy

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

"Doch es sind nicht immer Linke, Grüne und Sozialdemokraten, die die Kleiderordnung offen interpretieren. Die heutige Staatsministerin für Raumfahrt Dorothee Bär (CSU) trug 2015 unter ihrem Blazer ein Trikot des FC Bayern München, samt Logo der Telekom. Hier kam der Protest von links.

Die Beispiele zeigen: Die Würde des Hauses unterliegt auch dem Zeitgeist. Und der scheint – zumindest unter der Bundestagspräsidentin Klöckner – wieder konservativer zu werden. "

[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 day ago (1 children)

God forbid politicians make political statements.

[–] [email protected] 57 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not with their clothes, though. The political debate in the Bundestag is conducted through words and to be fair, that seems like a reasonable idea.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (24 children)

AfD members of parliament are routinely wearing German flag pins, which carries a pretty obvious message coming from a far right party.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Trouble with that is that it is a German party doing German politics in Germany. There are German flags all over the Reichstag. Yes, everyone knows they do it because they are Nazis. But if push came to shove I think a court would rule in their favour that they are in line with the dresscode.

Now, if they were wearing a black t-shirt with just a German flag on it I think the consequences would be the same as in this case here. But they usually know how far they can push the rules.

They are experienced sea lions.

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