German activist Claus Schreer passes away

Known for his work for oppressed peoples, and his support for Kurds, Claus Schreer passed away at the age of 85. The news of Schrer's death caused great sadness in the Kurdish community in Bavaria.

Peace activist and friend of the Kurds, Claus Schreer, died in Munich at the age of 85. A native of Upper Silesia, Schreer led demonstrations in the '70s and '80s for the oppressed peoples, opposed the armament of Germany, participated in anti-racist actions.

A lawsuit was filed against Schreer for carrying the YPJ flag and the "Freedom for Öcalan" banner with the photo of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan at the protests at the Munich Security Conference in 2018. The Munich Administrative Court fined the German activist Schreer 2,800 Euros for "making PKK propaganda". As a result of the objection made against the fine, this was reduced to 1,250 Euros.

Schreer stated that he would object to this decision too in an article published in Yeni Ozgur Politika on 21 December 2022. "With this decision, - he wrote -  the right to freedom of expression in the Constitution was violated. The decision should be reviewed."

Kerem Schamberger, speaking to Yeni Ozgur Politika said that Claus Schreer died suddenly at his home in Munich on the night of 24 August. Schamberger said that "an autopsy is being done at the hospital, as we have not learned the cause of death yet." Only after the autopsy is completed, the schedule of Schreer's funeral will be announced.

He demanded Öcalan to be released

German activist Claus wrote on 21 December: "The YPG, which saved Rojava from ISIS mercenaries as well as tens of thousands of Yazidis in 2014, deserves respect and solidarity, not criminalization. Demanding the lifting of the PKK ban and the release of Öcalan, who has been in solitary confinement for 20 years, is part of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution. In order to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish people, the release of Abdullah Öcalan is a primary step that can no longer be postponed."