Expert calls for the international match to be canceled: Between freedom of expression and anti-Semitism

As of: October 31, 2023 4:43 p.m

The war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas also affects sports. When it comes to Palestinian flags and social media posts, where are the dividing lines between freedom of expression and (punishable) anti-Semitism? An expert is calling for the international match against Turkey to be canceled.

Marcus Bark

“October 7th is a turning point that we could never have imagined”said Sabena Donath from the Central Council of Jews when she met in Dortmund “Report button” to record and evaluate anti-Semitic incidents in sport.

The massacre carried out by the terrorist organization Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023 led to an escalation of a conflict in the Middle East that has global implications. Since then kicks Anti-Semitism, the hatred of Jews that has been known for centuries, intensified, it is more noticed, discussed and discussed. There are a number of suggestions from representatives from politics and society as to how he should be sanctioned more harshly in the future.

However, many lawyers see no need. So said lawyer Dr. Kati Lang dem “Media service integration”that there are anti-Semitic crimes “no gap in criminal liability” give. “Calls for violence against Jews, supporting or glorifying Hamas, burning Israel flags – all of these actions are already punishable by law.” Lang sees it “Execution Deficit” which is expressed in it, “that anti-Semitic hate speech is not recognized as such, but is permitted with reference to freedom of expression”.

“Juden Jena” was dismissed as a “fan term typical of the scene”.

Benjamin Steinitz, managing director of the company, also saw it that way “Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Research and Information Centers” (RIAS), on Monday (October 30, 2023) at the presentation of the “Report buttons” in Dortmund. “Anti-Semitism is often not recognized by law enforcement authorities”said Steinitz, who backed this up with examples from Thuringia. The designation of fans of FC Carl Zeiss Jena as “Jews Jena” In eight cases that occurred between 2015 and 2018, it was only prosecuted once as anti-Semitic incitement, but seven times as “typical fan term” or “general political statement” been dismissed.

It is difficult to distinguish between criminally relevant anti-Semitism and freedom of expression covered by the Basic Law, which often falls into the realm of “Anti-Semitism below the limit of criminal liability” slip away like it Derviş Hızarcı designated.

Hızarcı is the son of Turkish guest workers, Muslim and chairman of the “Kreuzberg initiative against anti-Semitism”. In one Interview with the Tagesschau He showed where criticism of Israel was permissible for him “ends and anti-Semitism begins”.

“We had to run into the cabin and hide until the police came”

Hızarcı also spoke to the sports show about his own experiences as an athlete. For eight years now he has been playing as the only Muslim in a football team of the Jewish club TuS Makkabi in Berlin: “The first season was very hard. We had to run into the locker room, hide, seek shelter in the locker room until the police came.” Since then it would have “There were almost no problems at all”. In the first game of “Men’s 7s” (in this case, this corresponds to an over-30 person) after October 7th there was even a minute’s silence in favor of the victims of Hamas terror at the initiative of the Turkish referee and the opponent 1. FC Wacker Lankwitz.

“You have to get to the point of seeing the human being in each other. So it’s about empathy.”said Hızarcı, knowing that it is often different. The recipient of the Federal Order of Merit grew up in Neukölln and played football near Sonnenallee, a hot spot where anti-Semitism has been openly evident for weeks. Some show sympathy for Hamas and celebrate killed Jews.

Anti-Israel Erdoğan at the international match?

The Sonnenalle is in the headlines across Germany, and Derviş Hızarcı fears that another location in Berlin, across the state border, could soon become the focus of reporting on anti-Semitic incidents. An international match between the German national soccer team and Turkey is scheduled for November 18th in the Olympic Stadium.

That is also conceivable Recep Tayyip Erdoğan want to see the game on site. The Turkish President does not see Hamas as a terrorist organization; he described Israel as one “War criminal” and “Occupation force”.

Derviş Hızarcı told Sportschau: “I would cancel the game on the grounds that we don’t feel like it at the moment because we are currently struggling for community in Germany and the developments in Turkey in this matter are causing us great concern.” There be “pro-Palestinian choirs” to expect what one has to endure in a democracy, what “fairly okay” be, but: “Anti-Israel choirs and anti-Israel choirs are not okay.”

Palestine flag “perfectly fine” for Maccabi president

These are the dividing lines that are currently at issue. Alon Meyer, President of the Jewish Gymnastics and Sports Association “Maccabi Germany”, she says similarly. Showing the flag of Palestine at a sporting event is “perfectly fine”, he told the sports show. I’m speaking so soon after the massacre “perhaps for a lack of sensitivity”but for that he would “don’t shame anyone”.

The limit has undoubtedly been exceeded, “If someone now wishes the Palestinians unconditional victory or posts ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. That is not an expression of support for the Palestinian people, but that is definitely the thought in the background or at least the support of them Movement to build a great Palestinian empire there in the Middle East, without Israel, without the Jews.”

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – Anwar El Ghazi shared a post with this slogan. The professional soccer player from 1. FSV Mainz 05 was initially suspended by his club, he later received a warning and is now allowed to train and play again. The slogan calls for a free Palestine from the river Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea.

Most people see this as a desire for Israel to be wiped out – that could be seen as condoning crimes and therefore be criminally relevant. However, there are opinions that someone is simply advocating for a two-state solution using the slogan, which even respected diplomats such as Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn support.

Conspiracy theorist anti-Semitism

The individual case and context must always be considered, says Derviş Hızarcı. However, for the expert it is clear that “‘You Jew’ is always an insult” be.

“Right-wing extremist clothing is always anti-Semitic. Anyone who wears an SS tattoo is always anti-Semitic.”continued Hızarcı, who also added the “conspiracy-theoretical anti-Semitism” as a dangerous phenomenon. “We know who controls everything”is a so-called detour communication to encrypt his anti-Semitism.

The Central Council of Jews sees different guidelines

Coaches, players and officials in sports must therefore be better trained to recognize anti-Semitism and racism, even if it is not as obvious as with a Star of David painted on a house wall or a burned Israeli flag.

For Sabena Donath from the Central Council of Jews, the guidelines for raising awareness have shifted since the Hamas massacre: “The slogan ‘Free Palestine’ was okay before October 7th, but now it is no longer okay.”

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