Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi was killed at the consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. He wanted to pick up documents for his marriage there. But since then they have never seen him again. Investigators suggest that he was killed and dissected at the consulate, parts of the body were never found. According to the secret service, 15 people from Saudi Arabia flew to Turkey for the murder. All evidence creates a load on the secret service of Saudi Arabia.
Khashoggi was supposed to leave his own country as an enemy of the royal family of Saudi Arabia in 2017. In the US, he wrote for Washington Post About his house and often remained in Turkey. Unfortunately, the fact that journalists, expelled politicians fled the human rights activists, also pursue, threaten and even killed in exile by secret services from the countries of their origin in order to force them to shut up. Also in Germany. This is called transnational repression. In 2023 and 2024, a member of the Bundestag discussed at a parliamentary breakfast.
The Chinese journalist Su Yutong was a guest. In 2010, she fled to Germany after the distribution of diaries at the former Prime Minister Lee Pan in China. Now they are prohibited there. But even in Germany, from where Su Yutong continued to increase her voice against human rights violations in China, she followed the regime, she said in the Bundestag. Her address and photographs were published on dating sites, so men called her who wanted sex.
She was threatened by social networks, photographed and intimidated in protests against the China government. The hotels were booked under her name, so that secret services associated them with the threats of an explosion against the hotel. Today, Su Yutong is protected by the German police, which advised her to move. Your address can no longer be found using information files.
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Not all cases in Germany are even recorded
According to the House of Friotics of the United States, at least twelve foreign governments have been harassing citizens in Germany with transnational repressions over the past ten years. In addition to China, this also includes Russia, Belarus, Egypt, Turki, Vietnam, Iran and Azerbaijan. But only public cases are recorded. For example, the impressive Tiergartenmurge in 2019, when a Russian agent on behalf of the Russian secret service killed Georgians who fled to Germany.
Or cases when the victim, like Su Utong as a journalist, was able to do her business public. Many victims correspond to the pressure of authoritarian regimes or do not see the opportunity to contact the public. Most likely, a large number of unpertable cases.
During a parliamentary breakfast, Turkish journalist Errker said that in 2021 he was beaten by three people in exile in Berlin. He recognized him and appointed the right forces from Turkey. Other injured people reported that cyber attacks about attempts to establish an authoritarian regime, spy software on their mobile phones and intimidation of their family members living in the country of origin, so they themselves are silent.
They reported on the secret services of their native countries who live in Germany as business people or diplomats and act on the diaspora to isolate and spy on human rights activists and critical journalists.
This gives several journalists from Turkey and Vietnam in Germany. Nevertheless, they highly appreciated the good protection of the police, but criticized that the topic of transnational repression in public debate was still unlikely to occur. They wished the response of the federal government for victims. For example, this topic was named in the agreement of the government of the government of Amel, as well as currently black and red. But little happens outside the police work.
Incomplete police protection
And the protection of the police will receive only victims that come to themselves or by chance to the police. In addition, many investigations against the alleged criminals, who sometimes live abroad or have diplomatic status, have been waiting for tangible results for many years for years.
Last summer, at the initiative of the Tibetan initiative, eleven human rights organizations and exile gathered together for the “coalition against transnational repression in Germany.” “When people pursue in Germany, they have still been alone with their fears,” says David Missal from The Tibet Iminiate. “Transnational repressions are not only a threat to individuals, but also a problem for democracy and the rule of law.”
According to Missal, transnational repressions are also directed against the federal republic itself, since it may affect fundamental freedoms. The coalition also includes the Belarusian community of times, a human rights organization specializing in Vietnam! as well as reporters without restrictions. The coalition wants to be a strong voice for those who have suffered, the sensitivity of the public and is politically consulted. Because transnational repressions are increasing, which is attributed to Sophie von Wait of journalists without restrictions around the world growing authoritarianism.
Marina May He is a freelance journalist and author of the pelvis in Berlin.
This article will be published on May 3, 2025 as part of the general special insert from the TAZ Panter Foundation and a reporter without borders until the day of the press freedom.
