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Shock at the town hall: 'Free Gaza' graffiti causes a stir in Rinteln!
On September 9th, 2025, a “Free Gaza” lettering appeared in Rinteln, similar to that in Fürstenwalde/Spree. Administrations react.
Shock at the town hall: 'Free Gaza' graffiti causes a stir in Rinteln!
In the small town of Rinteln, conspicuous graffiti has appeared on the town hall: the words “Free Gaza” are causing a stir and raising questions. The city administration has not yet commented on the incident and the origin of the graffiti remains unclear. It is also not known exactly when the lettering was put up, and the city cannot be reached for comment at the moment. Whether a complaint will be filed against unknown persons or has already been is also still unclear. Similar incidents in other cities, such as Fürstenwalde/Spree in Brandenburg, where similar slogans were painted over, suggest a larger phenomenon. In Fürstenwalde, the city administration actively intervened in October 2023 and had the graffiti removed and filed a report, as szlz.de reported.
The words “Free Gaza” are in the context of the ongoing Middle East conflict and reflect widespread solidarity with the Gazan population. But where does the public form of protest begin? In Hanover, where the state parliament was smeared with similar slogans last year, there was a court case against a 25-year-old man. He was sentenced to 2,000 euros for damaging property to the public, but the verdict is not yet final. The young man, who has family in Gaza, confessed to having daubed the words “Free Gaza” on the facade of the state parliament. At the same time, he admitted that he felt powerless after he was unsuccessful in legal demonstrations. The damage to the facade amounts to around 70,000 euros and is currently being borne by the taxpayer, as zeit.de reports.
The momentous protest
The background to such actions is complex. In the case of the convicted 25-year-old, it was also reported that he could be identified when the device was inspected. A judge found that the young man was unpunished and showed no destructive tendencies. Nevertheless, the legal situation remains clear: damage to property can be punished with up to three years in prison or a fine. Given the political tensions surrounding the Middle East conflict, the lettering in Rinteln will certainly not be viewed as an isolated case.
In recent months, such protests have repeatedly taken place, mainly in urban areas. Last year, slogans were often sprayed with red paint, leading to expensive cleanup costs. In Rinteln, the question arises as to whether the city administration will act similarly to restore its facade or whether it wants to respond to public pressure. The city's residents seem to be eager for a timely response from their city - uncertainty as to how such protests should be dealt with is also in the air.