Federal Government
Stark-Watzinger separates from State Secretary
Stark-Watzinger reacted with horror to the “statement by teachers at Berlin universities”. Photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
After criticism from university professors about the way a pro-Palestinian protest camp was handled, the Ministry of Education discussed possible consequences. This has now cost a state secretary her job.
There are personnel consequences in the Federal Ministry of Education following criticism of the handling of an open letter on pro-Palestinian university protests. State Secretary Sabine Döring is to be placed into temporary retirement, according to Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger announced that she had asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to do this.
The background to this is an internal investigation into possible funding-related consequences for university lecturers who had criticized the clearing of a protest camp of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at a Berlin university.
“Academic freedom is a very valuable asset and is rightly protected by the constitution,” explained Stark-Watzinger. The impression created is likely to “permanently damage” the trust that scientists have in the Federal Ministry of Education. “Science funding is based on scientific criteria, not on political worldviews,” emphasized the department head.
Minister herself sharply criticized open letter
Stark-Watzinger had sharply criticized the letter published in May: “Instead of clearly standing up against hatred of Israel and Jews, university occupiers are being made victims and violence is being trivialized,” she told the “Bild” newspaper at the time. Recently, the ARD magazine “Panorama” reported, citing internal emails, that the Ministry of Education had been asked to examine the extent to which statements in the letter were relevant under criminal law and whether the ministry could cut funding as a consequence. This sparked criticism.
Stark-Watzinger now explained that she had been “brought to her attention” by an email from the specialist level of her ministry on this topic on June 11. She had arranged for the matter to be dealt with thoroughly and transparently. “It is clear that an examination of potential consequences under funding law was indeed requested from the relevant specialist departments.”
“Statements covered by freedom of expression”
State Secretary Döring, who is responsible for the university department, ordered the review. “She also explained that she had obviously expressed herself in a misleading way when ordering the legal review. Nevertheless, the impression was created that the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) was considering examining the consequences of funding on the basis of an open letter covered by freedom of expression.”
This contradicts the principles of academic freedom, the FDP politician stressed. “There are no reviews of the legal consequences of statements covered by freedom of expression.”
Last week, Döring explained that the management had made it clear “very soon after the audit was commissioned that aspects of funding law” should not be part of the legal review. This had shown that the content of the letter was covered by freedom of expression.
Minister “still stunned” by lecturer’s letter
In a “Statement by teachers at Berlin universities”, more than 100 lecturers from several Berlin universities criticized the clearing of a protest camp of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the Free University of Berlin in May.
“Regardless of whether we agree with the specific demands of the protest camp, we stand up for our students and defend their right to peaceful protest, which also includes occupying university grounds,” they wrote. And further: “We call on the Berlin university administrations to refrain from police operations against their own students as well as from further criminal prosecution.”
Stark-Watzinger was already horrified by the letter of support. “It still amazes me to this day how one-sidedly the letter ignored the terror of Hamas,” she explained. “And how it made a blanket demand that crimes at universities should not be prosecuted, while at the same time anti-Semitic incitement and violent attacks against Jewish citizens are being observed.”
But with regard to the open letter, she also stressed: “This is a legitimate part of debate and freedom of expression. It is just as natural to counter this with a different opinion.”
Union politician calls for minister’s resignation
The CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s spokesman on education and research policy, Thomas Jarzombek, called on the department head to resign. “Federal Minister Stark-Watzinger is right: a new start in terms of personnel at the BMBF is necessary. She must now take this step herself,” he explained.
“It was her announcement that the lecturers’ letter was not in line with the Basic Law.” In doing so, she had set the direction for the ministry. “The fact that she did not say a word about this speaks volumes about what was actually going on.”