We’ve sent Berghain two demands.

Here’s how they can rebuild trust and end the boycott.

By deplatforming DJs, Berghain has actively participated in Germany’s racist and authoritarian crackdown on Palestinian solidarity. Its actions have both harmed artistic freedom of expression and hindered efforts to bring pressure for a ceasefire.

Many have been asking what Berghain can do to repair trust and end the boycott.

In consultation with affected communities, we have formulated two demands, which we sent to Berghain’s management via email on Monday 29 April.

Demand 1: Issue a full public apology for deplatforming artists.

This apology should take full accountability both for the harms to the artists and the wider impacts on freedom of expression within the electronic music community.

We further suggest that this apology:

• is unreserved, addressing both the affected artists, and wider community who felt unwelcome and unsafe at Berghain due to this censorship
• acknowledges how, in deplatforming Arab and Black artists, Berghain has participated in wider structural operations of white supremacy
• acknowledges the double standard of allowing Ukrainian artists full rein to criticise the Russian invasion, while policing the expression of Arab artists

Demand 2: Publicly call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire

We also ask that Berghain publicly affirm their support for basic rights recognised under international law including:

• the right of Palestinians to self-determination;
• the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes;
• the right of Palestinians to resist occupation.

Berghain already has a model for this in its public support for Ukrainians via the (recently deleted) Stop the War! page on its website.

We ask that Berghain creates a similar page for Palestine. As a queer-centred space, the club also has a responsibility towards LGBTQ+ Palestnians. One way it could meet this is by sharing resources by groups like Queers in Palestine.