Antisemitism in Neukölln: A Disgraceful Sight, Says Klein
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Let's get real, y'all. The Federal Government's Anti-Semitism Commissioner, Felix Klein, ain't happy about the antisemitic slurs splashed all over Neukölln's streets, specifically in the Sonnenallee area and the nearby streets. He's been around and seen some nasty stuff that's downright appalling.
He's not talkin' about some minor offensive graffiti here; this is intolerable stuff related to Israel. This ain't the first time he's seen it, but seeing it is still a raw deal. You can see it on flyers, stickers, and graffiti.
Klein's warning is clear: This kind of hate can lead to radicalization real quick. And that radicalization is exactly what the Jewish cultural pub "Bajszel" is dealing with right now. He wanted to pay a visit to show solidarity for a long time.
Bajszel, a pub standin' up against antisemitism, has had its fair share of attacks, including an attempted arson. Just recently, someone even had the nerve to chuck a stone through one of the pub's windows.
Klein recalls a Hamas triangle painted on the pub's facade. He points out that this symbol is used by the terrorist organization as a mark to identify targets for destruction. That's some "green light for destruction" shit, folks.
The cops are keepin' 'em Company, but that still isn't acceptable. Klein ain't need to say more; it's just unacceptable that a pub needs police protection at all. Attacking Bajszel is an attack on our open societies, plain and simple.
About Felix Klein
Felix Klein is the Federal Government's Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism.
In Neukölln, Berlin
Neukölln is a district in the city of Berlin, where the cultural pub "Bajszel" has been facing attacks due to antisemitic ideologies.
Federal Government's Efforts
The federal government is taking action to combat antisemitism, including initiatives like the "Live Democracy!" program that supports local projects and security upgrades. Bajszel may qualify for grants via intermediary organizations like the RIAS antisemitism reporting center.
Berlin/Neukölln-Specific Measures
Neukölln's authorities have increased policing with the KOBiL task force monitoring threats, and the RIAS Berlin hotline enables residents to report antisemitic incidents directly. Local politicians have also publicly condemned the attacks and participated in solidarity events at Bajszel.
Bajszel's Response
Bajszel has taken measures to ensure security by installing surveillance cameras and hosting workshops on Jewish history and counter-stereotypes. The pub also continues to organize cultural events to emphasize Jewish visibility and resistance.
Key Challenges
Residents face challenges like social media harassment that often evade prosecution due to jurisdictional gaps and the presence of persistent extremist networks in Berlin, like the Reichsbürger ideology.
For immediate action, residents can use RIAS’s reporting tools, while Bajszel may apply for federal security grants via Klein’s office. Local police now treat antisemitic acts as priority crimes under Berlin’s Landesaktionsplan gegen Antisemitismus.
- Felix Klein, the Federal Government's Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism, has raised concerns about the repeated instances of antisemitic graffiti in Neukölln, specifically in the Sonnenallee area and nearby streets, which he considers appalling and a serious issue.
- Klein has strongly criticized the use of symbols such as the Hamas triangle, which was painted on the facade of the Jewish cultural pub "Bajszel" in Neukölln, as this symbol is associated with a terrorist organization and could potentially signal targets for destruction.
- Bajszel, a pub with a commitment to fighting against antisemitism, has been targeted numerous times, with incidents including an attempted arson and a recent stone being thrown through one of its windows.
- In an effort to combat antisemitism, the federal government has launched initiatives like the "Live Democracy!" program, providing support for local projects and security upgrades, and pubs like Bajszel may be eligible for grants through intermediary organizations like the RIAS antisemitism reporting center.
- Neukölln's authorities have launched measures to address the issue, such as increasing policing with the KOBiL task force, setting up the RIAS Berlin hotline for reporting antisemitic incidents, and mobilizing local politicians to publicly condemn the attacks and show solidarity with Bajszel.
