Police remove rainbow peace flag
Freedom of expression row after Strasbourg Communist Party’s anti-Nato protest removed by officers
POLICE officers have taken down a rainbow peace flag ahead of a Nato conference in Strasbourg, sparking a row over freedom of speech.
The flag, which has been in the window of the Communist Party headquarters in the city since the war in Iraq began in 2003, said “Peace, No to Nato” and was one of several in Strasbourg ordered down by police according to party members.
It has since been replaced.
Party member Christian Grosse said the police’s action was “an attack on freedom of expression”. He said the police were trying to undermine a counter-conference being organised in protest at the Nato summit on April 3-4.
Up to 60,000 from 23 different countries are expected to attend the counter summit.
Strasbourg is home to both the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights.
Green MEP Daniel-Cohn Bendit said the police action was “scandalous and intolerable”, his comments were echoed by centre party leader François Bayrou.
A statement by the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin department said officers had not been given any orders to take down flags and banners in the run up to the Nato conference.
Photo:Vertigogen
