Accusations of defamation
Search for the truth: Gil Ofarim’s trial opens
Gil Ofarim (l) talks to his lawyer Alexander Stevens in the courtroom. photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
As a guest in a Leipzig hotel, the musician Gil Ofarim is said to have been insulted in an anti-Semitic manner by an employee. However, the public prosecutor doesn’t think so.
The hall is full when Gil Ofarim appears before the regional court in Leipzig to face the to make defamation allegations against him. A good two years ago, the 41-year-old Jewish musician and actor made serious allegations of anti-Semitism against an employee of a Leipzig hotel. However, based on their investigation, the public prosecutor did not believe him and charged him with defamation. But for Ofarim’s defense it is clear: If even one discriminatory word was spoken that evening in October 2021, the Munich artist must be acquitted.
The musician, who was in Leipzig as a guest for a Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk production, described in a video that went viral that a hotel employee asked him to take off his Star of David necklace so that he could check in. The musician had previously complained about favoritism given to guests who were behind him in the queue.
“That is not the truth,” said public prosecutor Andreas Ricken. The defendant wrongly portrayed the employee as an anti-Semite. When checking in, the Star of David was not visible under the musician’s shirt, according to the prosecution’s version. Ofarim only made the star visible during the video recording.
Defender: Public opinion determined by lies
According to the defense, Ofarim does not want to comment on the allegations for the time being. The case is a “classic case of testimony against testimony,” said Ofarim’s lawyer Alexander Stevens after the charges were read out. It is possible that the case was a misunderstanding or bad humor – or an “anti-Semitic innuendo,” said the lawyer. It is important for society that the court determines the truth.
The lawyer also emphasized that it was “not about the star, but about the experience of discrimination.” Bullying and discrimination are difficult to prove – especially for victims. In this case, public opinion is determined by several lies. For example, it is wrong that the hotel investigated openly and fairly after the incident.
The defense also considers it “completely implausible” that the incident happened the way the hotel employee described it. The investigation against the employee was closed by the public prosecutor’s office after extensive investigations.
The court has scheduled ten days of hearings until December 7th for the trial against Ofarim. The presumption of innocence applies until the proceedings are legally concluded.