Strong pro-Israel consensus among political leaders has led to conflict with Berlin’s diverse cultural sector and a fraught debate over antisemitism

“We have a conversation about racism that is led by the global south and people of colour from Germany, which the German state is trying to brand as antisemitic,” Younes added. “And if we present our relationship to race, racism and European genocides from a non-European or non-white perspective, we get cancelled.”

  • @febraEnglish
    39•8 months ago

    As someone living in Germany, the level of state repression I’ve seen towards artists and activists who speak against Israel’s war on Gaza is terrifying. I never thought I’d see such a level of repression in Germany. Artists’ funds are getting slashed left and right. The government is pushing venues to cancel appointments with artists that criticize Israel (including jewish artists/activists). Cultural venues have been closed down by the government for hosting some of these activists (Oyoun Berlin was closed down after renting a space for an evening to the local charter of Jewish Voice for Peace). Activists have been arrested/fined for chants like “From the river to the sea we demand equality” or “Jews against genocide”. There have been countless non-violent activists raided by armed police in the early hours of the morning for their pro Palestine activism. Berlin police has enacted checkpoints in immigrant neighbourhoods. Journalists getting fired for asking the wrong questions. The state of Berlin is now trying to pass a law to allow universities to exmatriculate students on “behavioural” grounds (aka political stances). Politicians actively singling out activists on social media and redirecting insane amounts of hate their way. This place is getting very, very scary.

    • Tarte
      -5•8 months ago

      As a German it’s fully in your right to disagree with the state and with the police (I certainly don’t agree with everything that’s going on). However, this comment of yours is distorting the reality too much, for my taste, to remain silent.

      • “terrifying state repression” = less public funding for some artists, more for others (not getting free money doesn’t mean you’re being “repressed”)
      • “Berlin police has enacted checkpoints in immigrant neighbourhoods” = That did not happen. It is a myth.
      • “Politicians actively singling out activists on social media and redirecting insane amounts of hate their way.” = Politicians responding in kind when you mention them in a tweet. They are humans and they are allowed to respond to you.
      • “to allow universities to exmatriculate students on behavioural grounds (aka political stances).” = Berlin trying to fix a legal loophole that prevents them from exmatriculating one student that physically assaulted a Jew for antisemitic reasons breaking his face bones. Outside of Berlin that would’ve been grounds for immediate exmatriculation within the existing laws.

      I do agree with your general stance, but there is no need to exaggerate/distort the issues we’re facing.