After anti-Semitic statements at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, Islamic associations are also being criticized. The chairman of the Central Council of Muslims, Mazyek, condemned the incidents daily topics-Interview.
The Central Council of Muslims has warned pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Germany to exercise restraint. “I’m really very worried,” said the chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek, in the daily topics.
Hatred, violence and anti-Semitism are currently being experienced on the streets. “At this point I condemn this very clearly and clearly,” emphasized Mazyek. “I also appeal to Muslims in particular, especially in demonstrations, to take part with restraint and to take a close look at who the operators are.” An alternative, for example, is prayers for peace.
Visiting a synagogue as a “sign of sympathy”
In the past few days there have been several riots at pro-Palestinian demonstrations. “I do not hide the fact that there are also Muslims who are anti-Semitic and we have to fight that,” said Mazyek.
Any form of anti-Semitism or racism is a sin in Islam. “We as German Muslims in particular have a special responsibility, including towards Jews and Israel.” He himself visited a synagogue on Friday to “show a sign of sympathy, compassion, but also solidarity.”
Ricarda Lang wants a clear statement from the Islamic associations
“We should be careful not to place all Muslims under general suspicion,” said Green Party leader Ricarda Lang to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. There are many voices from the Islamic community that have taken a clear position against Hamas. But she would have liked a “clearer statement from the Islamic associations”.
Lang spoke out in favor of a “social alliance against anti-Semitism”. “Sports clubs, business associations, unions and churches must now stand up together,” demanded the Green Party leader. Anti-Semitism is not a new phenomenon in Germany. Taking action against this is a permanent task that “perhaps we have not done adequate justice to.”
Ataman: Anti-discrimination law should be expanded
The independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, Ferda Ataman, is calling for an expansion of the anti-discrimination law in view of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany. “The federal government should enforce a ban on discrimination based on nationality in the anti-discrimination law,” demanded Ataman in the newspapers of the Funke media group. “That would help to better combat Israel-related anti-Semitism,” she argued.
Unlike in other EU countries, such discrimination based on nationality is currently legal in Germany. The bans on discrimination would currently not apply if Jews were disadvantaged because of their Israeli citizenship. The federal government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, supports the demand.
Alon Meyer: A decent majority must become louder
The president of the Makkabi Jewish Sports Association, Alon Meyer, is hoping for greater public opposition in view of the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel slogans at many demonstrations in Germany.
“I am firmly convinced that the majority in Germany is decent – and this majority must become louder,” he said. It would be nice if more people in public life and on social media spoke clearly about terror, “but also voted with their feet.”
Matching and training operations are currently restricted in some Makkabi clubs nationwide, especially in Berlin, said Meyer. In Frankfurt, gaming operations will continue as normal, although the security situation will always be kept in mind. “The safety of the athletes comes first.”
Pincha Goldschmidt: Robust response from state and society
A spokesman for the European Rabbinical Conference hopes for a “robust response from the state and society” in view of the sometimes hateful slogans that have been heard repeatedly at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in recent days. “It would be nice if word got out that the German state won’t put up with anything,” said Chief Rabbi Pincha Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis.