Court decides: Foreign policy rally in Osnabrück relocated!

Court decides: Foreign policy rally in Osnabrück relocated!

The city of Osnabrück is currently faced with a particular challenge because the administrative court has rejected an urgent application against the relocation of a planned rally. This will take place on June 28, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Nikolaiort and will deal with the topic “Great Reset of German foreign policy in relation to the Ukrainian war and the Middle East conflict”. The applicant expects a number of participants of around 30 to 50 people. Nevertheless, a conflict arose over the venue as the city proposed alternative locations, including the Schlossgarten and Willy-Brandt-Platz, due to noise pollution concerns, such as Law and politics reported.

However, the applicant did not agree with these proposals and filed a lawsuit on June 26, 2025, along with an urgent application. The court based its rejection of the application on the fact that Nikolaiort is particularly susceptible to the spread of noise due to its structural conditions. In the past there had been complaints about excessive noise and disruptions, some of which were caused by the organizers themselves. It was also discovered that the applicant had ignored noise protection requirements in the past and addressed bystanders provocatively.

Background of the decision

The administrative court's decision is clear: relocation to the proposed alternative areas is considered proportionate. This argument shows that the protection of residents and the maintenance of public order may have to take priority, even if the fundamental right to freedom of assembly is strongly anchored in Germany. After All right After all, the right to demonstrate is an elementary component of democracy, which includes the right to free development of personality, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The legal regulations regarding the holding of demonstrations are clear: registration must be made with the police or public order office at least 48 hours before the event. Participants should also not carry any weapons or dangerous objects with them. In this specific case, however, the court has the impression that it is difficult to ensure orderly proceedings at Nikolaiort due to the poor acoustic conditions.

Further course of the procedure

The decision of the administrative court can be challenged within two weeks with a complaint to the Lower Saxony Higher Administrative Court. This process highlights the challenges that both organizers and the city face when planning and carrying out rallies, especially in densely built-up areas.

In the past, the city of Osnabrück has repeatedly tried to strike a balance between protecting residents and the right to freedom of assembly. It remains to be seen how the applicant will react to the decision and whether the idea of ​​changing location will ultimately be accepted.