The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms, has condemned a decision by a German regional court, affirming an earlier court decision, that the attempt to burn down the Wuppertal synagogue in 2014 was a justified act to criticise Israel’s policies. The court ruled that the attack was not driven by anti-Semitism and that the three men of Palestinian descent who tried to torch the synagogue with Molotov cocktails wanted to draw “attention to the Gaza conflict” with Israel. The men were handed suspended sentences after being found guilty of arson.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“We condemn in the strongest terms this outrageous ruling which in effect sanctions violence against Jews. This was a pure hate crime. It is hard to fathom that any court would draw a comparison between such criminal acts and any legitimate criticism of a government’s policy. The decision sets a dangerous precedent and provides a legal excuse and a mask for extremists to carry out their hatred of Jews and Israel. This could very well mean that German Jews will no longer feel safe, not in their houses of prayer, nor on the streets and nor in their homes. It is alarming that we need to recall that during the horrific episode of Kristallnacht in 1938, this very same synagogue was set alight by the Nazis, and that the majority of the German people stood by and watched. What does this say about Germany in 2017, when a German court allows haters and those who engage in terrorist acts a free reign to express their venomous anti-Semitism in the guise of criticism of Israeli actions?”
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading civil rights organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677.