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Emergency

Demonstrating: your right of assembly and its limits

Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right: in the open air you may assemble peacefully and without weapons. Assemblies must generally be registered, but spontaneous ones are possible. Conditions or a ban are only permitted under narrow conditions, with an immediate danger to public safety.

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Freedom of assembly protects peaceful assemblies (Art. 8 GG). Conditions or a ban are only permitted with an immediate danger to public safety and order and must be proportionate.
Assemblies in the open air must generally be registered (usually 48 hours in advance), but spontaneous assemblies are permitted. Against conditions or a ban you can take court action, also in expedited proceedings.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Observe the registration

    Register a planned assembly with the competent authority in good time (usually 48 hours in advance).

  2. 2

    2. Check conditions

    If you receive conditions, check their proportionality; blanket or excessive conditions are open to challenge.

  3. 3

    3. Stay peaceful

    The protection applies to peaceful assemblies. Violence or weapons remove the protection.

  4. 4

    4. Use legal protection

    Against a ban or burdensome conditions you can take court action, often in expedited proceedings.

How to spot the scam

  • An assembly is banned across the board without a concrete danger.
  • Conditions restrict the assembly disproportionately.
  • You overlook the registration deadline for a planned assembly.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to register a demonstration?

Assemblies in the open air must generally be registered, usually 48 hours before the announcement. Spontaneous assemblies that form on a current occasion, however, are permitted even without prior registration. A missing registration does not automatically make an assembly non-peaceful.

When may an assembly be banned?

Only with an immediate danger to public safety or order and only as a last resort. Conditions and bans must be proportionate. The protection of Art. 8 GG applies to peaceful and unarmed assemblies.

What can I do against conditions or a ban?

You can take court action against them, often in expedited proceedings before the administrative court. Blanket or disproportionate conditions and bans are regularly overturned by courts. Get legal support if needed.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.