Anti-Semitic hate speech on Facebook: Police are investigating in Brandenburg!

Anti-Semitic hate speech on Facebook: Police are investigating in Brandenburg!

In Brandenburg, an anti-Semitic incident on the Facebook page of an alterations tailor is causing a stir. Local police have launched an investigation after an entry banning Jews was posted online. The owner of the tailoring shop, Mehmet Uyar, vehemently defends himself against the allegations and claims that his website was hacked. According to Uyar, he treats every customer equally in his shops in Kleinmachnow and Calau and describes the allegations as defamation. The post in question has now been deleted, but the police are planning to speak to the author after they were made aware of the post through internal reports. The identity of the accused remains hidden under the protection of privacy.

The Berlin public prosecutor's office has received more than 160 cases relating to anti-Semitic incidents in recent months, many of them in connection with the ongoing Middle East conflict. These numbers are no surprise, especially since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel in October. Since then, anti-Semitic incidents in Germany have increased rapidly. The statistics documented by the police include over 600 cases of property damage and 400 violent crimes, including serious physical injuries. Most of the crimes, including insults and resistance to police officers, are closely linked to demonstrations organized by the pro-Palestinian community.

Context of the increase

This rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany is also receiving international attention, as more and more people taking part in the demonstrations are chanting anti-Semitic slogans or even burning Israel flags. Anti-Semitism, a phenomenon that has its roots deep in history, also appears in modern forms. The statistics show that this problem is still very much present even in Germany, 70 years after the Holocaust. Over 2,600 anti-Semitic offenses were recorded in 2022 - a worrying trend.

The problem of anti-Semitism is complex. There is structural, secondary and Israel-related anti-Semitism. A 2022 survey found that 30% of respondents experienced anti-Semitic jokes in their environment, and 15% reported derogatory comments about Jews. These incidents can occur both on social networks and in public spaces and have unfortunately become commonplace. A striking example is the anti-Semitic incident at the “documenta” in Kassel in 2022, which received a lot of media attention.

Given the current situation, it is essential that the authorities take decisive action against such anti-democratic and discriminatory tendencies. Anti-Semitism has no place in our society. The Berlin public prosecutor's office has already initiated several proceedings in this context and is examining the possibility of accelerated proceedings. In one case there has already been a conviction and the convicted person has lodged an appeal.

As the events in Brandenburg show, it is crucial to see the fight against anti-Semitism as a social challenge and to take such incidents seriously, regardless of where they occur.

For more information on this topic you can read the articles on South Germans, Daily Mirror and Statista read up.