Press release: Defence Team of the Ulm 5 from 20th May 2026
Today, 22nd May 2026, the fourth day of the Ulm 5, took place at the Stuttgart Regional Court. The circumstances of the proceedings continue to violate the presumption of innocence. The court has failed to heed our concerns in this regard – the defendants continue to be brought into court in handcuffs and are forced to remain a glass-walled cell. The public gallery is guarded by eight law enforcement officers, some of whom wore reinforced leather gloves from the outset – a not exactly subtle threat of violence in the event of disturbances. An intimidating sight, unlike anything the defence lawyers have ever experienced before. Some visitors were required to line up with their hands against the wall to be searched; several people were also subjected to intimate searches during checks – even though there have been no significant disruptions to the proceedings so far.
For the first time in this trial, on the fourth day of proceedings, the presiding judge at least accepted motions to change the seating arrangement, only to announce that she would only decide on the matter next week. When the defence requested to hire a court clerk to record an accurate transcript of the proceedings, the presiding judge dismissed their motion without any reasonable justification.
When co-defendant Tetlow-Devally made their testimony and, referring to the allegations, said, “It is a disgrace to portray resistance against occupation and mass murder as antisemitism,” there was an audible expression of agreement from the public gallery lasting no more than a few seconds. The judge took this opportunity to interrupt the defendant and forbid them from continuing to speak, even though they said they were not concerned and wished to continue. The court then adjourned for 30 minutes, only to subsequently bring the person who had allegedly caused the disturbance before the bench, during the ongoing proceedings, and conduct a “hearing” there and then, to impose a fine. This is a procedure that has no place in a court hearing, as it can be dealt with in writing outside the main proceedings. The presiding judge was clearly more concerned with the symbolic gesture of having the person literally paraded before the court, as if in a classroom, than with hearing what the defendants had to say. Without hearing the parties involved, she then decided to adjourn for the day. Once more, she did not allow any motions to be heard.
The defendants and their defence lawyers can only conclude from this behaviour that the presiding judge, Kathrin Lauchstädt, has no genuine interest in actually listening to what the defendants have to say. We therefore call on her to hand over the duty to a chamber of the Stuttgart Regional Court willing to do so.
The next hearing is scheduled for Friday, 29th May 2026, again at 9:00 a.m. The defence hopes that all the defendants will then finally be given the opportunity to speak publicly about the allegations made against them.
Who are the Ulm5? Five young people – students, artists, activists – from Ireland, the UK, Spain, and Germany who have spent years advocating for Palestinian rights through legal means. Their action on 8th September 2025, was an expression of deep moral conviction – civil disobedience directed exclusively against property in order to save human lives.
Defence team in Case No. 18 KLs 36 Js 123/25 Dr. Maja Beisenherz, München, Info@beisenherz.eu, 0177 / 70 95 812, Michael Brenner, Nürnberg, michael.brenner@anw-nbg.de, 0911 / 37 66 42 77, Mathes Breuer, München, breuer@kanzlei-abe.de, 0175 / 52 46 963, Anna Magdalena Busl, Bonn, busl@anwaltsbuero-bonn.de, 0176 / 23 23 32 35, Benjamin Düsberg, Berlin, mail@rechtsanwalt-duesberg.de, 0157 / 30 30 8383, Carolin Kaufmann, Berlin, kaufmann@akm-berlin.de, 0172 / 47 21 420, Rosa Mayer-Eschenbach, München, eschenbach@kanzlei-abe.de, 0176 / 65 35 94 43, Christina Mucha, Memmingen, info@kanzlei-mucha.de, 08331 / 69 08 136, Nina Onèr, Berlin, kanzlei@ninaoner.de, 01520 97 33 278, Matthias Schuster, Berlin, mail@anwalt-schuster.de, 0176 / 24 75 8230, Martina Sulzberger, Augsburg, kanzlei@anwaeltin-sulzberger.de, 0821 / 50 87 3850