Police in Germany raided and shut down a pro-Palestinian conference in Berlin on Friday. The Palestine Congress was scheduled to be held for three days, but the event was shut down as the first panelist spoke. In addition, Germany’s Interior Ministry banned some conference speakers from even entering the country or addressing it remotely, including former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and the Palestinian British surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah, who worked in Gaza. Dr. Abu-Sittah spoke to Middle East Eye after he was barred entry.

Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah: “Upon arrival, I was stopped at the passport office. I was then escorted down to the basement of the airport, where I was questioned for around three-and-a-half hours. At the end of three-and-a-half hours, I was told that I will not be allowed to enter German soil.”

Click here to see our interview with the doctor after he came out of Gaza. German authorities defended the decision to shut down down the pro-Palestinian conference, citing German laws against so-called hate speech.