Free University of Berlin
Beaten FU student accuses university management of misconduct
The Free University of Berlin has banned the suspected attacker from entering the building. photo
© Monika Skolimowska/dpa
The Jewish student Lahav Shapira was brutally beaten at the beginning of February for suspected anti-Semitic reasons. In an interview he now makes allegations against the Free University.
The Jewish student Lahav Shapira, who was beaten in a suspected anti-Semitic attack, has Free University of Berlin accused of having done too little against anti-Israel groups.
“The university management gave the anti-Israel groups far too much leeway. Jewish fellow students and I had asked the FU executive board long before the attack on me to at least observe these groups,” said the 30-year-old in an interview with “Welt” , which was published online. The university promised solutions, but then “ignored” the students.
Shapira was hospitalized in early February with broken bones in his face. A 23-year-old pro-Palestinian German fellow student is said to have hit and kicked him in the nightlife district in Berlin-Mitte. In a photo from the hospital that Die Welt published in its article, Shapira has a severely swollen and discolored face covered in multiple bandages and plasters. “My nose was completely broken, and a bone in the eye socket and cheek were also broken,” the 30-year-old told the newspaper.
Investigations by the public prosecutor’s office are ongoing
The Berlin public prosecutor’s office is investigating the accusation of grievous bodily harm; the act is currently classified as both anti-Semitic and in connection with the Middle East conflict. The investigation and the evaluation of evidence are still ongoing, as the German Press Agency said at the request of the agency.
There have been repeated clashes between students from different camps during protests at the Free University. In the interview, Shapira criticized the university for wanting to hand over responsibility to the students. “We were supposed to forward announcements of anti-Israel demonstrations and were encouraged to remove posters or graffiti ourselves.” Apparently the university doesn’t dare to take care of itself, said the student. “Regardless of the fact that this is the university’s job, it can actually be dangerous, as the attack on me shows.”
Shapira said he was stressed but not afraid to go out. “I have had several experiences with anti-Semitism and violence. That doesn’t make me want to lock myself at home.” When he’s out and about in the evening, he’ll have to be careful about who’s around him in the future.
Free University rejects allegations
In a statement available to the German Press Agency, the FU rejected the allegations made in the interview. The university neither gave anti-Israel groups any leeway nor ignored possible solutions, it said. “The FU took numerous measures early on to counter anti-Semitism,” said a press office employee.
Among other things, there is a contact person for those affected and witnesses of anti-Semitism, psychological counseling and special courses on dealing with the Middle East conflict for university employees. Further measures are being planned.
It was also said that the FU management was not aware that students had been asked to remove posters on their own. “The university administration would never consciously take or encourage measures that would put students at personal risk.” Posters depicting criminal content would be removed as soon as they were discovered or the location where they were posted was made known. As a rule, the caretaker service is responsible for the removal.
Berlin Senate wants to tighten higher education law
As a consequence of the attack, the Berlin Senate intends to tighten the university law. The aim is to reintroduce the option to expel students after certain crimes, which was only abolished in 2021. A corresponding Senate bill is planned by Easter and the legislative process in the House of Representatives should be completed by the summer break in July, if possible, as Science Senator Ina Czyborra (SPD) made clear on Tuesday after the Senate meeting. The university has banned the alleged attacker from entering the building.