Funding Restoration Triumph for Oyoun in Court Battle
The legal battle between Berlin's Oyoun cultural centre and the city's Senate has reached a significant turning point, with the court ruling in favour of Oyoun, allowing them to appeal the withdrawal of their funding.
The dispute began in November 2022, when the Berlin Senate initiated a legal audit of Oyoun's funding, following accusations of antisemitism in local media. However, a Berlin regional court later ruled that these allegations were unfounded.
Oyoun, a left-wing cultural centre located in Neukolln, has been a platform for Palestinian voices and pro-Palestinian cultural expression. This move by the Senate came amid increased scrutiny and crackdown in Berlin on Palestinian solidarity activism.
Following the Senate's funding review announcement, Oyoun faced a series of challenges, including hostile media portrayals, police raids, and bans on pro-Palestinian events in Berlin. The centre and its allies faced threats not only of financial withdrawal but also of state suppression under the guise of combating antisemitism and protecting constitutional order.
Hans Schoepflin of the Schoepflin Foundation, which funded Oyoun, publicly supported the centre, emphasizing the importance of maintaining space for dialogue about contested realities, even when such discourse is politically sensitive.
The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) must now rehear Oyoun's case due to the court ruling. This marks another small victory for Oyoun, who also won a court case against the Tagesspiegel for falsely accusing them of making antisemitic statements in May.
The event from "Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East" was not cancelled by Oyoun despite funding withdrawal threats, further highlighting the centre's commitment to free speech and cultural expression. The legal fight against funding withdrawal has been won by Oyoun, paving the way for them to continue their advocacy work in a more favourable environment.
[1] Reporting from nd exposed the internal documents regarding the legal audit of Oyoun's funding. [2] Oyoun was notified of funding withdrawal after refusing to cancel an event from "Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East".
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