Green Party co-leader Nouripour calls for anti-Semitism in Germany to be confronted with determination. He condemns the anti-Semitic content of “Fridays for Future”. At the same time, he also calls for empathy for Palestinian victims.
Green Party co-chair Omid Nouripour has condemned anti-Semitic content from the climate protection movement “Fridays for Future” on social networks. “The activists also smuggled a plush toy in the shape of an octopus into the picture,” Nouripour told the newspapers of the Funke media group in reference to a photo published on Instagram, which also shows the well-known activist Greta Thunberg.
“The octopus has been known as an anti-Semitic symbol for decades,” said Nouripour. “Now conspiracy ideologies have been shared. These posts are disturbing and unacceptable.” Nouripour welcomed the fact that the German group from Fridays for Future distanced itself from this. “Our full solidarity goes out to Jews worldwide and we strongly condemn the terror of Hamas,” activist Luisa Neubauer told the dpa news agency. “We strongly distance ourselves from the anti-Semitic posts on international channels.”
“Special responsibility of the Germans”
Nouripour recalled the special responsibility of Germans to combat anti-Semitism with all determination and called for concrete steps in Germany. “Firstly, it’s about adapting educational work. There are fewer and fewer contemporary witnesses to the persecution of Jews under National Socialism. We need educational concepts that show that these are crimes against humanity,” said the Green Party co-chair. A clear line must be drawn where freedom of expression ends and incitement begins.
More educational work about the Middle East conflict is also necessary. “The Palestinians are suffering massively from Hamas, which has taken control by force,” said Nouripour. “Here a terrorist organization is fighting against a democratic state – and against the people it claims to want to liberate.”
Nouripour calls on Israel to show moderation
He also called for empathy for Palestinian victims. “We must have compassion for all victims. It is terrible when children suffer – regardless of whether they are Israeli or Palestinian,” said Nouripour. At the same time, he emphasized: “Hamas is responsible for the current situation.”
Nouripour called on Israel to show moderation in its war against the militant Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip. “The Israelis have the right to self-defense. The principle of proportionality must apply,” said the Green Party co-chair. It is necessary to set up humanitarian corridors to provide supplies to the civilian population as quickly as possible, demanded Nouripour.