Saxony
Ofarim trial: Star of David was not visible in the hotel
Gil Ofarim (M.) in the hall of the regional court in Leipzig between his lawyers. photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Serious allegations of anti-Semitism: The musician Ofarim claims that he was asked to take off his Star of David by a hotel manager. But an expert refutes this statement.
In the trial against the Jewish musician Gil Ofarim due to defamation and false suspicions, an expert has refuted an important statement made by the artist.
From entering the lobby to leaving the hotel, no chain with a Star of David was visible, said forensic expert Dirk Labudde in the Leipzig Regional Court.
At the beginning of October 2021, the musician made serious allegations of anti-Semitism against a manager of the Leipzig hotel in an Instagram video. Ofarim should take off his Star of David and only then could he check in, the man is said to have said, according to the singer. However, after extensive investigations by the public prosecutor’s office, charges were brought against Ofarim himself. The case against the hotel manager was dropped.
According to the expert, the chain with the Star of David was only visible when Ofarim recorded the Instagram video in front of the hotel. To do this, the digital forensic expert evaluated the recordings from the surveillance cameras in an extensive process. The expert’s statements will continue on Thursday. It is also about the behavior of those involved in the hotel lobby.