• Germany edition
Society
Photo: DPA

Pussy Riot copycats sing in Cologne Cathedral

Published: 20 Aug 12 08:36 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20120820-44457.html

Three people dressed as Pussy Riot, one female and two male, staged a protest during a service in Germany's most famous cathedral on Sunday, calling on the punk band imprisoned in Russia to be set free.

"A 20-year-old woman and two men aged 23 and 25 shouted slogans wildly and held up a banner," a police spokesman said on Sunday.

Their banner read "Free Pussy Riot and all prisoners" in English, and the trio was dressed in the colourful clothes and balaclavas worn by the Russian punk band, who were jailed for two years last week for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin in a Moscow cathedral in February.

The Cologne protesters were bustled out by cathedral officials, and have been charged with breaching the peace and disturbing a religious service.

Police said they did not resist being removed from the cathedral.

DAPD/The Local/bk

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

09:45 August 20, 2012 by The-ex-pat
And this trio of phuqing idiots should also get two years. There are some places some things that should not be done and a place of God that people hold dear is one of them. It just shows a complete lack f respect, mind you when have "activists" ever had a modicum of respect in their collective bodies?

PS. I am a atheist
10:54 August 20, 2012 by keeps71
What complete and utter obsequiousness to the theocrats! Why should anyone respect people's religious beliefs - certainly not, believing in god is absurd and religious nutters should be ridiculed and held in contempt. Certainly we must respect their right to hold such beliefs but I'm not going to respect the delusional fairy tales themselves. Why should we respect ancient cults that cause turmoil, bloodshed, murder, mutilation and sow discord throughout the world and then call it love. These people need to be shaken up and shown how ridiculous their sky daddy myths are. There should be no difference between holding a demonstration in a church or in an office building and I can't believe there is a separate offence in Germany for disturbing a religious service! Disgraceful.
12:25 August 20, 2012 by Taciturning
Keeps71 wouldn't DARE take their high ideals into a mosque. Much like these three clowns wouldn't dare take their protest to Moscow. Cowards, all.
13:21 August 20, 2012 by IveLeon
I always deemed human rights campaigning by AI to be valuable and important, but disruption of services at the Koln Cathedral defending so called freedom of expression and campaigning in support of Pussy Riot within the Cathedral itself is extremism. It looks like it was organised by Amnesty International.

Indeed Pussy Riot were treated quite harshly, but the girls disrupted a public order and offended some people for whom the place could be sacred. Indeed how about the principle that human rights should be based on public mutual respect and consensus. Unfortunately Koln Cathedral action shows the changing nature of human rights campaigning, its radicalisation, militancy, "neo Marxism", Bolshevism etc that prevail now even within previously very respectful organisations. Is it a lack of funding in dire times, it is lack of leadership?

Human rights is a positive extremely important direction of human development, but aggressive disrespectful campaigning can start scaring many ordinary people off from human rights. Future of human rights is not only hindered by some leaders, but also by aggressive campaigning.
23:25 August 20, 2012 by zeddriver
I like the slogan "free all prisoners" So. This numpty wants to free murderers and rapists? How about we free a few far right nazi types and biker gang members. I'm sure they would give this dress wearing guy a hardy hand shake just before they stuck a knife in him for wearing that dress.
15:26 August 21, 2012 by Wilfre73d
Now for some real good news,

Four Pussy Riot copy pussycats demonstrators were killed last night in Stuttgart after a man with a red baklava opened fire against them with an automatic rifle and semi-pistol. Witnesses, who were leaving the Grabkapelle-Rotenberg church at the time of the massacre overheard the discussion between the presume killer and pussy-riot extremists. They described the man as a "normal kind of guy" and as "he looked kind of dorky to me." But what the witnesses didn't know was that this "dorky" guy was loaded with a great amount of fire power. And boy OH boy were they impressed (specially the now deceased)! Among the witnesses was 69 year old Frau Schmith, who named the executor as "The Red Judge" and 19 year old grandson who told reporters that "he never saw someone shoot so damn good in his life." The 19 year old who has an extensive amount of experience in first-person shooter video games said that "every shot fired was a direct hit" and that "no bullet was gone to waste."

Nobody really cared about the bloodbath until two days later cleaning workers of the church were complaining about a "greater than usual" amount of trash left at the front of the church. Today, colorful flowers and lighted candles laid at the church's entrance in reminiscence of the now celeb "Red Judge."
20:49 August 24, 2012 by Flint
Hmm. And the Koln cathedral is an appropriate place for the Pussy Riot protest because... Somebody help me figure out the connection. Doesn't Russia have an embassy and a consulate or two in Germany?
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Neo-Nazi Terror Trial
Photo: DPA

NSU known as neo-Nazi 'terror cell' before killings

German intelligence services had identified neo-Nazi gang the National Socialist Underground (NSU) as a “terror cell” months before members killed their first victim in 2000, a secret document condemning the state's inaction has revealed. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Cop faces charges for punching woman

German state prosecutors filed on Wednesday charges against a policeman who punched a woman in the face, breaking her nose and eye socket while she was at a Munich police station in January. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Police raid suspected leftist extremists

Police on Wednesday carried out raids across several German states at more than 20 properties, which they believe are connected to a network of leftist extremists responsible for carrying out attacks over more than a decade. READ () »

German of the Week
Photo: DPA

'I hate Wagner but I hate him on my knees'

Germany is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Richard Wagner on Wednesday. Probably the country's most revered and reviled composer, the man considered an anti-Semitic musical genius is The Local's German of the Week. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Rösler wants dual citizenship for IT talent

German Economy Minister Philipp Rösler appealed to top US university students this week to consider Germany as the place to start their IT careers and called for tech entrepreneurs to be offered dual citizenship. READ () »

Social Democrats seek revival on 150th b-day

Social Democrats seek revival on 150th b-day

Germany's Social Democrats, trailing behind the conservatives in the polls just months ahead of the elections, are looking to relaunch themselves as they celebrate their 150th anniversary later this week. READ () »

The Local’s movie listings
New in German cinemas: 'Fast & Furious 6'

New in German cinemas: 'Fast & Furious 6'

Find movies playing in English in Germany with The Local’s cinema guide. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Germans bathe easy in clear waters

German outdoor swimming spots are cleaner than ever, results from a European Commission survey showed on Tuesday. On the whole, the EU's water quality has, it said, significantly improved. READ () »

More Society
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
Highlights
Photo: Private
LIFESTYLE »
In the latest installment of My German Career, The Local spoke with New Zealander physicist Graham Appleby about life in Germany's scientific community.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
20,000 Goths gather in Leipzig
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Harmless pink fun or a bad influence on young girls? A life-size Barbie dream house attraction opened in Berlin to protests including a topless woman burning a doll in effigy.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
At his final heartbeat I knew I had to act. Our German of the Week is Tina K., who, after her brother was beaten to death, has been campaigning for an end to street violence in Berlin.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
The Local List: Ten German words with double meanings
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Conflict is part of the fabric of Berlin, but the city's "Peacemaker" soothes things over. Jessica Ware tracked him down for a chat.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
It might be politically toxic, but it's time to hit the brakes on Germany's reckless driving culture, argues The Local's Ben Knight.
Photo: M&S
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Move over Berlin: why London is Germany's new fashion capital
Photo: Private
OPINION »
For this edition of My German Career, former US military man turned armed guard Keith Alban talks about leaving home in search of a better quality of life.
Photo: Katie Needs
SOCIETY »
Offseason, Germany's largest island Rügen might not top many peoples' list of dream holidays. But as The Local discovered, its quiet beauty makes it worth a trip to escape city bustle.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Confused about the hundreds of euros missing from your pay packet? Don't panic - the latest in The Local's JobTalk series looks at German social security payments.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Is that your Handy ringing? This week's Local List takes a look at 12 misused English words in German.
Photo: A Peoples' Picture
LIFESTYLE »
An American is stirring up creative spontaneity in Dresden by leaving disposable cameras around for strangers' use, before collecting them and displaying the results online.
Photo: Private
LIFESTYLE »
After it was revealed that Angela Merkel had a Polish grandfather, Matthew Luxmoore set out to find where she could connect to her roots in Berlin's sizable Polish community.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Why isn't everyone wearing Lederhosen? It's easy for foreigners to stereotype Germany, but this week's Local List is dedicated to debunking common myths.
Photo: Private
OPINION »
The last time Si Liberman saw Berlin, he was thousands of feet in the air on a US bombing raid over Nazi Germany. Nearly seven decades later, he returned to the city.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
What are the hidden rules of etiquette foreigners need to watch out for while doing business in Germany? The Local's JobTalk series has tips for keeping on the right side of your colleagues.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
All of The Local's 'Germans of the Week' so far
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
Every town and city from The Local's My Germany series
Furniture Leasing Corporation
SPONSORED ARTICLE
The furniture-free way to relocate to Germany
Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Top five reasons to enrol on an Executive MBA



Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

870 jobs available
589 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
  • Frankfurt's Skyscrapers: A Guide
    Frankfurt is known for banks and skyscrapers. So what is behind the colossal glass, steel, and stone facades of the city’s buildings? Meet Frankfurt’s tallest.
  • Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
    Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength.
  • The all-German final in Wembley
    Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium.
  • German first feature film in Cannes
    A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur.
  • Traveling Germany: Europa-Park
    Think theme parks:Roller coasters, colorful rides, entertainment, thrills. Think Germany: Europa-Park is the largest amusement park in the country, second in Europe only to Disneyland Paris.
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.