Middle East conflict: Jewish student complains against Berlin University

The Berlin Administrative Court examines a lawsuit by a Jewish student against the Free University of Berlin (FU) after an anti -Semitic attack. Lahav Shapira accuses the university that she does not take enough against anti -Semitic discrimination. The representatives of the FU requested that the lawsuit be dismissed. The lawsuit is too unconcrete. A judgment is still expected today.

From the point of view of the advice centers for affected rights, racist and anti -Semitic violence (VBR), the lawsuit is of fundamental importance. According to the university laws of the federal states, the universities are obliged to meet their responsibility and take measures to protect. “We therefore hope that the lawsuit before the administrative court will also make a sign of encouragement to students,” as managing director Heike Kleffner said on the sidelines of the negotiation.

Student does not feel safe on the FU site

The student, who is also a member of the Jewish community, states that Propalestinian groups had held anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic events on the FU site. He no longer feels safe there. From the plaintiff’s point of view, the university violates its obligation from the Berlin University Act. Accordingly, universities are obliged to prevent discrimination.

After the terrorist attack of Islamist Hamas on Israel in October 2023, there are regular demonstrations in the context with the Middle East conflict. There are also numerous protests at universities. Sometimes there were occupations and attacks. According to the research and information center Anti-Semitism (RIAS), there have been significantly more anti-Semitic incidents at Berlin universities since the terrorist attack. In 2024, 51 incidents were documented.

Fontone convicted after attack

In February 2024, Shapira was attacked and injured by a fellow student at a random encounter in Berlin-Mitte. The District Court of Tiergarten assumed an anti -Semitic act and sentenced the man to a prison sentence of three years in April. The judgment is not final.

This Thursday is also planned for a trial against a 32-year-old in front of the Tiergarten district court, who is said to have denied access to a FU hearing room in a context in a context. The accused is said to have packed, pushed and insulted the Jewish students.