"Palestine" T-shirt | Left Party MP Köktürk expelled from the Bundestag

Berlin. Left Party MP Cansin Köktürk was ejected from the Bundestag plenary chamber because of a T-shirt. Parliamentary President Julia Klöckner (CDU) cited the reason for the eviction, stating that political statements on clothing are not permitted in the plenary session. Köktürk appeared at a debate in which Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) and Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD) were among those questioned, wearing a shirt printed with "Palestine."

Klöckner said she had already privately asked Köktürk to change her clothing, which she apparently refused. "Then I would ask you to leave the meeting." The 31-year-old then complied – albeit reluctantly.

The Left Party politician didn't want to let her expulsion from the Bundestag go unchallenged. On Platform X, she underscored her criticism of the German government's Middle East policy. "Wadephul in the plenary hall: Germany will continue to supply weapons to Israel. Not a word about the more than 50,000 dead and injured children." She continued: "Ms. Klöckner asked me to leave the plenary hall because my shirt says 'Palestine'. You have all failed so badly."

Just a few weeks ago, Köktürk had herself photographed in the plenary chamber wearing the Palestinian scarf, the so-called keffiyeh, and posted the photo online. Two weeks ago, her parliamentary colleague Marcel Bauer was expelled from the plenary chamber for wearing a beret. dpa/nd