Despite Being Banned In Germany Since November 2023, PFLP-Affiliated Samidoun, Which Openly Supports Hamas And Hizbullah, Launches Fundraising Campaign To 'Counter Anti-Palestinian Repression In Germany' – Listing Bank Information Of Extremist German Group Rote Hilfe

Since 2021, a leading left-wing extremist group in Germany, "Rote Hilfe e.V." (RH), led by Anja Sommerfeld, has been supporting the Palestinian cause. This includes supporting the Palestinian prisoner solidarity network, "Samidoun," the foreign arm of the terrorist "Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine" (PFLP).

RH's support is part of its expanding role in promoting left-wing activism and fighting what it considers repression. RH's newly launched hashtag, #StandWithZaid," aims to combat what it perceives as anti-Palestinian repression in Germany. The hashtag specifically focuses on preventing the revocation of residency for Zaid Abdulnasser, a Syrian-born Palestinian who coordinates the now-banned Samidoun Germany and has acted as its spokesman. The decision to revoke Abdulnasser's residency was based on involvement with "Masar Badil – Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement." This campaign also advocates for Palestinian prisoners and challenges broader steps taken against some Palestinian activists in Germany.[1]

Samidoun's campaign graphic "#StandWithZaid."

Founded in 1975, RH is among Germany's largest leftwing extremist groups. It describes itself as a "non-partisan, cross-current, left-wing protection and solidarity organization." With members in the two-digit thousands drawn from the far Left and other extremists, RH offers political and financial support to extremists on the Left facing legal challenges, including providing legal fees and court costs. RH's support extends to those imprisoned, aiming at maintaining their affiliation with the movement and encouraging ongoing resistance. RH engages in strategic public relations to challenge the legitimacy of security and judicial authorities and of constitutional democracy itself, all under its "anti-repression" mandate.

RH promotes networking nationwide among left-wing extremist movements, and openly legitimizes criminal and violent acts. It actively discourages cooperation with security authorities, using slogans such as: "No cooperation with the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, State Security, or other repressive authorities!" Those who defy this stance by cooperating with authorities are denied support from RH, underscoring a rigid policy that seeks to buffer members from the repercussions of their political activities.

The Verfassungsschutz, or the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, states that Rote Hilfe exhibits left-extremist tendencies; hence, RH is a "suspected extremist" case. The Office notes that the group facilitates financial and ideological support for individuals and actions that challenge and potentially undermine the constitutional democratic order.

Despite its general opposition to politically motivated deportations, RH's stance has been controversial in the case of Samidoun and its members. In the past, RH has supported Zaid Abdulnasser and Musaab Abu Atta.[2]

Samidoun's campaign graphic "#Justice For Musaab."

RH's support of the Palestinian cause has been consistent. It has collected donations through its own banking channel, the community bank "GLS Gemeinschaftsbank"[3] whose Bochum branch is in the Christstraße 9. The GLS is part of the Federal Association of Deutsche Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken (The National Association of German Cooperative Banks).

The  banking information of Rote Hilfe, where donations can be received, is openly displayed on the campaign's page.[4]

The Iban verification platform indicated that RH's branch is based in Bochum, a city in western Germany.[5]

On October 11, however, RH published a statement on its X account (formerly Twitter), announcing the termination of its support for the campaign against the deportation of Samidoun's spokesperson, Abdulnasser. It reiterated its advocacy for the preservation of basic rights and freedoms, which gave the impetus to support the Samidoun members; however, RH noted that its limits to solidarity have reached when left-wing principles are violated. Samidoun violated the group's core principles of supporting workers' movements, international solidarity, and opposing fascism, sexism, racism, antisemitism, militarism, and war. This led to the termination of the solidarity campaign. The statement failed to reveal the specific details underlying the decision. However, it followed an explicit statement by Samidoun which vocally and fully endorsed Hamas's October 7 attack, which Samidoun praised as a "new resistance operation." At the end of the statement, the donation account of Rote Hilfe e.V. was listed.[6]

On June 12, the leftist newspaper "Junge Welt" reported on RH's complicated, ambivalent relationship with Samidoun. RH rejected several requests in early June for the resumption of its support of Samidoun after the previously terminated campaign.[7] Within RH, with its numerous branches throughout approximately 50 cities and regions across Germany, a consensus on supporting the Palestinian cause is strong. Opinions within the pro-Palestinian movement, however, differ with respect to supporting Samidoun, since it was officially outlawed on November 2 by the German interior minister.

Despite being banned, Samidoun continues its activities in Germany through left-wing groups such as "Global South United," "Young Struggle," "Revolutionäre Linke," "Arbeiter:innen Macht," "Palästina Spricht," "Palästina Kampagne," "Jüdische Stimme," ["The Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East"] "Jewish Bund," ["Jewish Union," an anti-Zionist organization] as well as splinter groups and traditional leftwing activist groups, which often act as its proxies or in collaboration with Samidoun members to organize pro-Palestinian rallies.

While its social media accounts have been mostly closed in Germany, Samidoun's website remains accessible, enabling it to continue to mobilize sympathizers and to disseminate its messages.

It is yet to be determined whether the umbrella organization Rote Hilfe e.V. has reaffirmed its support for Samidoun and its "#StandWithZaid" campaign, or whether a regional splinter group has taken on the lead in endorsing Samidoun's campaign. It is clear, however, that Samidoun promotes the "#StandWithZaid" donation campaign, which refers donors directly to the banking account of Rote Hilfe e.V. with instructions to add the subject line: "Palestine Against Repression."

An additional avenue to donate is via the "Alliance for Global Justice"/Samidoun which encourages donations, specifically from Germany, for the banned "Samidoun Germany," payable in the form of a check addressed to its Tuscan headquarters. Online donations are not currently accepted.[8]

Alliance for Global Justice still collects donations for the banned organization, Samidoun Germany.