Frankfurt: Court allows United4Gaza demo despite city ban!

Frankfurt: Court allows United4Gaza demo despite city ban!

On August 28, 2025, the 5th Chamber of the Frankfurt am Main Administrative Court made an important decision: The court decided that the city's ban on gatherings for the planned demonstration "United4 Gaza - Stop the Genocide Now" is not legal. The meeting, which was registered by three private individuals for August 30, 2025 between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., will now be able to take place. How Advance Online reported, the route of the demonstration was well thought out: It starts in the Hafenpark and leads along several streets such as Honsellstrasse and Kaiserstrasse to Roßmarkt.

The fact that this court decision came about is due to an urgent application by one of the applicants, which was submitted on August 27, 2025. The city of Frankfurt had previously issued a ban on gatherings, based on a police threat forecast. However, the court made it clear that a ban would only be justified if an imminent threat to public safety could be proven - which was not the case in this case. The judges also referred to a ruling by the State Court of March 6, 2025, which states that a ban is only possible if crimes are expected to be committed by the entire assembly.

Legal framework

A decisive factor in this context is the Hessian Freedom of Assembly Act (HVersFG), which was passed on March 22, 2023 and has been in force since April 2023. This law replaced the previous regulations after 17 years and pursues a clear modernization of assembly rights. It defines the terms surrounding freedom of assembly and specifies the state's protective role as well as the obligations of organizers and authorities. As in Lexaris As explained, even small gatherings must be reported, which is intended to contribute to better regulation and control.

However, the role of public order in the right to assembly is in jeopardy. In its ruling, the Hessian State Court expressed concerns as to whether its application to assemblies is compatible with the Basic Law. What is certain is that the Hessian constitution offers expanded protection for freedom of assembly. Restrictions may only be made to protect legal interests inherent in the constitution. An evaluation of opinions by state authorities is also not permitted, as stipulated in Article 5 of the Basic Law. These aspects are reflected in the Court's reasoning, which examines both the necessity and the conformity of the law with the Constitution, even if this approach is criticized as courageous.

What's next?

The court's decision is an important signal for freedom of assembly in Hesse and could have an impact on future legal practice. An appeal against the decision can be lodged with the Hessian Administrative Court in Kassel within two weeks, so legal recourse remains open. While the city of Frankfurt has the opportunity to take action against the verdict, there is definitely an important demonstration on the agenda for August 30th, which could not only reflect the political mood, but also set an example for the social commitment of the Cologne population.