We are Salah Said and Manar Ahmad, Berlin-based activists and we urgently need your support in our legal battle against the ZDF Frontal Magazine.
The Background of Our Case
On April 16, 2024, ZDF Frontal aired a segment creating a false image of us supporting terrorist activities and creating other severe unfounded allegations. These baseless statements have severely impacted our lives, damaging our reputations and compromising our safety.
We decided to seek justice in court to make ZDF Frontal accountable and make sure they will stop their destructive misinformation campaigns against Palestinian rights advocates. Despite a first judgment by the Munich Regional Court on June 12, 2024, which was not in our favour, we are convinced of the merits of our case and determined to push back. With the guidance of our lawyer, Ingrid Yeboah, we have the opportunity to appeal this decision.
Why This Case Matters
Our case is not just about us. It's about standing up against misinformation and smear campaigns that affect many in the pro-Palestinian movement in Germany. A victory here could send a powerful message against defamation by public broadcasters, empower the Palestine solidarity movement and motivate future cases where activists are unfairly targeted.
Key Reasons to Support Us
Empower Activists: Winning this case could prevent further defamation of pro-Palestinian activists in Germany.
Protecting General Right of Personality: This case highlights how easily these rights can be undermined by media defamation and that we can push back.
Strengthening Solidarity: Supporting our case strengthens the pro-Palestinian movement in Germany, showing unity against unjust attacks.
Defending Vulnerable Individuals: Many activists lack the means to defend themselves against powerful media outlets. A win here could provide a protective mechanism for others.
Promoting Honest Discourse: Our case could lead to more nuanced public discussions about Palestine, grounded in facts rather than prejudices and anti-Palestinian bias.
Our Request
We aim to raise between €25,000 and €35,000 to cover the legal costs of our appeal. Any additional funds will be donated to the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), an organization which provides legal support to Palestinian rights activists.
Initial Costs: Our first case resulted in costs of around €10,000.
Future Costs: Depending on the outcome of our appeal, additional costs could amount to €20,000 to 30,000.
Funding Use: All funds will first cover our legal expenses; any surplus funds will support ELSC's work to defend and empower the Palestinian movement across Europe.
How You Can Help
Donate: Contribute to our crowdfunding campaign to cover our legal expenses and support broader pro-Palestinian legal efforts. (Option to spread your donation amount over smaller monthly installments)
Spread the Word: Share our campaign with your network and on social media to raise awareness and help us reach our target
Our Stories
We, Manar Ahmad and Salah Said, are both Palestinians who grew up in Berlin, and have recently faced severe defamation due to a segment aired on ZDF-Frontal. This broadcast tried to create an image of us harboring “extremist views” and suggested that Manar's embroidered shirt sleeve promotes “the extermination of Israel”, while groundlessly alleging Salah to have connections to Hamas.
These baseless images have severely impacted our lives. We now live in fear of becoming targets for extremists and have experienced significant damage to their reputations, which has strained their social and business relationships. Manar is particularly worried about her children's safety and the potential for them to face discrimination at school. Salah, who has been attacked multiple times in public as a result, feels more unsafe in Germany than ever. Despite his commitment to democracy and diversity, and his accolades from German foundations and government officials, Salah is appalled by the double standard: while advocacy for many causes is celebrated, speaking up for Palestine leads to being labeled a terrorist.
This defamation has left us both feeling vulnerable and unsafe. However, we are convinced that the power of the collective makes us stronger and that we can push back and advance our rights for the wider community of the Palestine activist movement in Germany and for freedom of speech.
Join Our Fight for Justice
Your support, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in our fight against injustice and for the rights of all pro-Palestinian activists in Germany. Together, we can challenge media defamation and promote a fair, truthful discourse.
Thank you for your solidarity and support.