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Josef Schuster: According to the President of the Central Council of Jews, anti-Semitic crimes must lead to exmatriculation

Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images

After an attack on a Jewish student at the Free University in Berlin, the Central Council of Jews is calling for harsher consequences. "Anyone who beats a Jewish fellow student into hospital because he is a Jew has no place at a German university," explained Central Council President Josef Schuster. However, according to the university, exmatriculation is not legally possible.

The 30-year-old Jewish student Lahav Shapira was beaten to the point of hospital on Saturday night in the Mitte district by a 23-year-old fellow student who is said to have represented pro-Palestinian positions. According to the police, this was preceded by an argument between the two students - however, a companion of Shapira told "Zeit Online" that there had been no argument between the two men.

According to the Berlin public prosecutor's office, which has now taken over the case, there is suspicion of dangerous bodily harm. “Based on the current status of the investigation, an anti-Semitic motive for the crime does not seem remote,” explained a spokesman. The suspect has not been arrested and further investigation steps are being examined.

The Jewish Student Union and the Central Council criticize the management of the university

On Monday, the Free University expressed its dismay at the “supposedly anti-Semitic attack.” If it is confirmed that the alleged perpetrator is studying at the FU, all legal options will be examined and, if possible, a ban will be issued. According to the university, expulsion as Schuster demands is not formally possible.

The university was recently criticized for its hesitant reaction to the attack. »The appeasement tactics and the excuses of the university management must finally come to an end. If the fight against anti-Semitism is taken seriously, anti-Semitic crimes must lead to exmatriculation," said Central Council President Schuster.

The Jewish Student Union also warned the university management. “Jewish students finally expect clear consequences for anti-Semites on campus,” said association president Hanna Veiler to the “Editorial Network Germany.” Public statements are “no longer enough.”

Shahak Shapira, the brother of the injured student, spoke in the "Berliner Zeitung" about many unanswered questions about the university's behavior in recent months. »Is the FU now to blame for my brother being attacked? No. But it is difficult to deny that the FU has allowed the development of an atmosphere from which such an attack could emerge.

Since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, there have been repeated conflicts between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students at German universities.

spr/dpa