D’fhiafraigh urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Cultúir agus Ealaíon Shinn Féin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, ar Rialtas na hÉireann teagmháil a dhéanamh le hAmbasadóir na Gearmáine chun leithscéal a lorg agus go cinnteoidh an Stát Gearmánach saoirse cainte, tar éis do phóilíní cosc a chur ar Ghaeilgeoirí a bhí ag cruinniú go poiblí i mBeirlín.

Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh:

“Tá saoirse cainte cosanta mar cheart in Airteagal a 10 den Choinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine. Sonraítear saoirse cruinnithe in Airteagal a 11. Tá Airteagal a 11 agus a 12 soiléir faoin dá rud i gCairt um Chearta Bunúsacha an Aontais Eorpaigh, agus cuimsítear an iolrachas teanga in Airteagal a 22.

“Níl caveat in ait ar bith a deir nach ann don saoirse cainte nó cruinnithe ach i dteangacha faofa amháin.

“Tá an Ghaeilge anois, tar éis na blianta ag feachtasaíocht chun stádas cothrom a bhaint amach, ina teanga iomlán oifigiúil den Aontas Eorpach. Seans nach dtuigeann na húdaráis sa Ghearmáin cé chomh domhain is atá an bá atá againn don Ghaeilge tar éis na céadta faoi chos agus faoi chosc, ach ní ghlacann muid go ciúin le bheith ciúnaithe.

“Tá cuma Orwell ar an scéal, póilíní ag gníomhú chun ciorcal comhrá ag canadh Óró Sé Do Bheatha ’Bhaile a chosc sa bhliain 2024, agus is cinnte go gcuirfeadh sé i gcuimhne tú ar ré ina raibh géarleanúint agus dúdhiúltú i bhfeidhm faoin choilíneachas orthu siúd a bhí chomh dána gur labhair siad a dteanga féin.

“Ar ndóigh, tá an ionsadh seo ar Ghaeilgeoirí mar chuid de chur chuige forlámhach níos leithne ag cur cosc ar ghuth ar bith a labhraíonn amach i gcoinne an cinedhíothú Iosraelach sa Phalaistín atá tar éis stop a chur le ghníomhairí, acadóirí agus ealaíontóirí fud fad na Gearmáine cruinniú nó tacaíocht phoiblí a thabhairt don síochán agus do dhínit an duine.

“Má tá cearta an duine nó riail an dlí tábhachtach do dhuine ar bith, ba chóir go mbeadh siad buartha faoin titim le fána atá le feiceáil le cúpla mí anuas sa Ghearmáin maidir le gnáthnósanna an daonlathais.

“Tá Sinn Féin ag fiafraí ar an Tánaiste Micheál Martin leithscéal a lorg ó Ambasadóir na Gearmáine as an masla seo, agus cur ina luí ar an Stát Gearmánach go léireofar meas ar chearta cainte agus cruinnithe, agus go ligfear dóibh siúd ar mian leo an dianscrios agus an foiréigean gan náire a cháineadh labhairt agus canadh amach.”

Irish Government must demand apology and respect for human rights from Germany – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht, Culture and Arts, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has called on the Irish Government to engage with the German Ambassador to demand an apology and the guarantee of freedom of expression from the German State, following police intervening to ban a public gathering of Irish speakers in Berlin.

Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:

“Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees the right to freedom of expression. Article 11 guarantees freedom of assembly. Articles 11 and 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union are unequivocal on both, with linguistic diversity enshrined in Article 22.

“Nowhere is there a caveat that freedom of speech and assembly exists only for those speaking approved languages.

“Irish, after decades of campaigning to achieve equal status, is a full official language of the European Union. Authorities in Germany might not appreciate the depth of feeling we hold for An Ghaeilge after centuries of oppression and bans, but we do not take being silenced quietly.

“For police to stage an intervention to ban a ciorcal comhrá singing Óró Sé Do Bheatha ’Bhaile in the year 2024 is verging on the Orwellian, and certainly harks back to a time where Irish speakers were persecuted and ostracised under colonial rule simply for having the audacity to speak their own language.

“Of course, this attack on Irish speakers is part of a wider authoritarian approach to silencing any dissenting voices calling out the Israeli genocide in Palestine that has seen activists, academics, and artists banned across Germany from gathering or publicly supporting peace and human dignity.

“The backsliding from democratic norms that has been evident in Germany in recent months should be of concern to all who value human rights and the rule of law.

“Sinn Féin is calling on Tánaiste Micheál Martin to demand an apology from the German Ambassador for this outrage, and to insist that the German State respects the freedoms of expression and assembly, and allows those who condemn wanton destruction and violence to speak out and sing.”