The “Asma Jahangir Conference” in Lahore turned into a battleground when the German Ambassador, Alfred Grannas, took the stage to speak on the topic of disability rights. As soon as he began his address, young participants and human rights activists in the hall started chanting slogans and disrupted his speech. The protesters argued that on one hand Germany is supplying Israel with large quantities of weapons, as a result of which thousands of children, men, and women in Gaza are being killed or left disabled, while on the other hand its ambassador has come to Pakistan to “lecture” on the rights of persons with disabilities. One young man shouted, “Thousands of people in Gaza have been disabled by the weapons given by your country, and you are here preaching to us?” The German ambassador tried to handle the situation, saying that dialogue would not be possible if there was shouting. However, the protest was so intense that he was forced to cut his speech short. This incident has occurred at a time when Germany’s pro-Israel stance is facing criticism at the global level.
German envoy forced to cut short speech at Asma Jahangir moot
Published on: February 10, 2026 4:36 AM