Over 2,000 rally against sexualized violence in Germany's Hanover

Hundreds of people protested against sexualized violence in the German city of Hanover on Wednesday amid heightened attention after a German celebrity came forward with allegations against a former partner.

Organizers said more than 2,000 people attended the rally under the slogan "Stop sexualized violence," far more than the 500 originally registered. Police were initially unavailable to provide an estimate.

The rally had been called by the Greens together with other parties and initiatives. A prominent speaker was former Green party co-leader Ricarda Lang.

"We now need a change in the law to protect all these women," Lang said. Germany must no longer be a "paradise for perpetrators."

"It is the task of all of us to ensure that simply being a woman is no longer a source of fear."

Lang also called for tighter oversight of social media. "Sexualized portrayals and misogyny generate attention. Attention brings clicks, and clicks bring profits," the 32-year-old said.

"That is why we must hold the platforms accountable. We must regulate them."

Lang also said she had found AI-generated pornographic images using her face online and that the discovery had made her feel sick.

Thousands had already taken part in a demonstration in Berlin on Sunday under the banner "Against sexualized digital violence – solidarity with all victims."

The debate has been fuelled by a high-profile case involving German TV presenter and actress Collien Fernandes.

The news magazine Der Spiegel first reported serious allegations she made against her ex-partner, actor Christian Ulmen, including that fake pornographic images of her were shared online without her consent.

Ulmen's lawyer subsequently announced legal action against the reporting, which he described as "largely consisting of inadmissible reporting based on suspicion."

Furthermore, he claimed that "untrue facts were being disseminated due to a one-sided account."