Press Release

The Ongoing Debate on Anti-Semitism

In the German Federal Republic

(Translated)

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of a Jewish entity, the President of the Republic, Steinmeier, delivered a speech on 15 December 2017 which was attended by the Ambassador of the Jewish entity in Germany. In his speech, the head of state ridiculed modern anti-Semitism, which in recent days has again shown its "evil face". He meant by that: "Extremist acts such as the burning of the ‘Israeli’ flag and the foolish slogans inciting hatred and violence that accompanied the recent protest campaign at the Brandenburg Gate."

In a reference to German history and the resulting national interest Steinmeier said:

People burning Israeli flags on German streets "do not understand, or do not respect, what it means to be German." "This responsibility does not recognize caveats for migrant backgrounds and no exceptions for newcomers," Steinmeier said. "It is non-negotiable, for everyone who lives here and wants to live here!' The German president also said he was "horrified and ashamed" by the act.This political view did not justify "hatred against Israel and disparagement of our Jewish citizens in Germany's streets. The Israeli whoever burns (Israel’s) flag on German territory is not only shows an intolerable hatred of ‘Israel’, but also does not understand or respect what is German, and the German state is particularly required to take a clear stand on this matter and take steps wherever necessary.”

In this statement, the President of the Republic linked the anti-Semitic European history with demonstrations critical of the illegal acts of occupation and displacement of an entire people. What in the recent past was considered part of an unbelievable conspiracy theory is now firmly entrenched in the mind of the German head of state: the persecution of Jews in Europe and the existence of the Jewish entity linked together by a causality relationship. Thus, the Jews are the greatest beneficiaries of the Holocaust. The reference to the history of their suffering suffices to make them above any criticism. Also, this erratic mix of two separate events producing another responsibility for Germany that was deliberately ignored by Steinmeier. Because if he insists on linking the conflict in the Middle East to the historical events that occurred to the Jews in Germany, this logic makes the displacement, killing and humiliation of the people of Palestine also the result of these historical events. Thus, Germany becomes directly responsible for all kinds of injustices that have taken place and are still taking place from the Jews on the people of Palestine ... If this narrative is adopted in all its details and considered a "national interest," then the relationship between Germany and the Islamic world must change radically. Displaced Palestinian people around the world will see Germany as the cause of their catastrophe. In the future, German flags may be burned in demonstrations.

The burning of German flags in demonstrations on German territory is a crime under paragraph 1 of article 90, paragraph 2, of the German Criminal Code. The protection of foreign flags from insults is established in article 104 of the Criminal Code. But this article prohibits insulting "public slogans" only, that is, like those used in sports festivals or seminars. But flags made by people for burning during demonstrations are excluded from this law! In addition, the Supreme Constitutional Court, in the case of insulting the slogans of the German state itself, calls for "special examination of each case" and the distinction between political criticism and intentional humiliation. In order to satisfy clause 5, paragraph 1 (c), which is derived from the need to protect the right to criticize the authority, the protection of the State emblem does not in any way permit the State's immunity from criticism and the prevention of its criticism ... Thus the deliberate disregard of the legal situation in the midst of the ongoing debate on anti-Semitisim shows clearly the political nature of this debate and the malicious intention behind it.

In all this, it is suggested that it is the Muslims who have introduced anti-Semitism back into Germany after it has been addressed, and that they are responsible for most of the acts of aggression against the Jews. Despite the fact that information issued by the Ministry of the Interior indicates that 93% of the crimes committed because of anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish entity in the first half of 2017 were by elements of the German far right. Only 23 cases were found to have been committed against religious or foreign background. These figures reveal the lie of importing anti-Semitism from abroad and prove that the motive of the Muslims in the first place is political and a reaction to the crimes of the Jews in Palestine. While the crimes committed by the people of the country are part of the European tradition in their avowed and irrational hatred of the Jews.

Hizb ut Tahrir stands firmly against this unacceptable equality stemming from racial obsession, that is, against equating anti-Semitism and criticism of the criminal acts of the Jewish entity. Criticism is caused by real injustice that has been committed and due to the true suffering of countless Palestinians, while European anti-Semitism aims to eliminate the Jewish people for no reason. This European anti-Semitism and the ongoing criminalization of the Islamic view of life and Islamic way of life all stem from the same racist mentality ... this European mentality is sick with the illusion of superiority and cannot co-exist with different views held by other people.

{وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ * أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَكِنْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ}

“And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers." * Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.” [al-Baqara: 11-12]

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

in German-speaking Countries