Deutsche Welle reacts to the results of a SZ research on anti-Semitic positioning of employees. The German international broadcaster said on Friday that the affected employees would be released from work. In the meantime, an external investigation is to investigate the cases and the structures in the editorial office.
The former Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (FDP) and the psychologist Ahmad Mansour were commissioned with the examination, Deutsche Welle said. The mandate of the independent investigation includes “the unreserved clarification of the incidents that have come to light, the examination of possible failures within the organization as well as the recommendation of preventive measures for the future”, it said in the communication. The management of DW will immediately draw appropriate conclusions based on the result of the examination.
The SZ had reported that several employees of DW’s Arab editorial team had spoken out anti-Israel or anti-Semitic on the Internet in the past. A large number of social media posts and articles in Arab media were evaluated for the research. Many of these posts were later deleted.
DW director Peter Limbourg now emphasized that all Deutsche Welle employees are required to be loyal to DW’s values and strategies, both internally and externally. “These principles include DW’s clear commitment to Israel’s right to exist and a clear stance against anti-Semitism. This also applies to private profiles on social media.”
Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger explained about her test assignment: “The values and principles that are associated with the work of Deutsche Welle must be understood and lived by everyone. The violations of this attitude described here weigh heavily, and that is what makes the careful review so important.”
Ahmad Mansour emphasized that the allegations were “to be taken very seriously, and it is good that DW’s management also sees it that way”. He wants to take on the investigation “with openness, neutrality and the respect and responsibility that it deserves”.