German officials have condemned a store owner in Flensburg who posted a sign banning Jews from his establishment, amid rising antisemitic incidents across Germany.
In a troubling display of antisemitism, a shop owner in Flensburg, Germany, has sparked outrage by posting a sign that explicitly bans Jews from entering his store. This incident has drawn condemnation from state officials in Schleswig-Holstein, who are grappling with a surge in antisemitic violence and incidents throughout the country.
The owner, Hans-Velten Reisch, a 60-year-old proprietor of a shop selling Gothic utensils and technical literature, displayed a sign that read, “Jews are banned from entering here! Nothing personal. No antisemitism. Just can’t stand you.” This provocative statement was made public on Wednesday and quickly attracted widespread criticism.
According to reports from Germany’s largest daily newspaper, Bild, Reisch defended his actions, claiming that his anger was fueled by news coverage of the conflict in Gaza. He stated, “I watch the news every evening. And when I saw what the Jews were doing in the Gaza Strip, I lost my temper and printed out the poster.” His comments come in the wake of Israel’s military response to Hamas, following a deadly attack on October 7, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, including American citizens.
Authorities responded swiftly to Reisch’s actions. The police informed him that he must remove the sign, prompting a joint statement from Dorit Stenke, the Minister of Culture for Schleswig-Holstein, and Gerhard Ulrich, the state’s antisemitism commissioner. They condemned the sign as a “frightening signal” and an assault on the principles of coexistence in a democratic society.
Stenke emphasized the need for decisive action against such displays of hatred, stating, “We cannot allow such things to continue in our society and must take decisive action against it together. Antisemitism is a threat to our democracy and must not be tolerated in any form.” Ulrich echoed her sentiments, asserting that combating antisemitism is a special responsibility for Germans.
The State Prosecutor has initiated an investigation into Reisch for incitement of hatred, with Ulrich filing a criminal complaint against him. In total, five criminal complaints have been lodged, highlighting the severity of the situation. Ulrich remarked, “Antisemitic hate speech like this not only hurts those affected but also disrupts public peace. The Flensburg incident, with its contemptuous rhetoric, is fatally reminiscent of the Nazi hate speech against Jews.”
This incident is part of a broader trend of rising antisemitism in Schleswig-Holstein, where officials reported a staggering 588 antisemitic incidents in 2024, marking a 390 percent increase from the previous year. The alarming rise in such incidents has raised concerns among community leaders and officials alike.
However, Ulrich himself has faced scrutiny over his past statements and actions, which some critics argue have contributed to anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiments. Previously serving as the Bishop of the Protestant Church in northern Germany, Ulrich has been accused of legitimizing antisemitism in mainstream German society. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a prominent Jewish human rights organization, has called for Ulrich’s dismissal, asserting that he is unfit to combat the very antisemitism he has helped to propagate.
In a controversial statement, Ulrich once remarked that the name “Israel” carries the weight of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He has also drawn parallels between Israel’s security measures and the Berlin Wall, suggesting that Israel should dismantle its security fence, which has been credited with saving countless Israeli lives from terrorist attacks.
The incident in Flensburg serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Germany faces in addressing antisemitism and fostering a society that upholds the values of tolerance and coexistence. As officials continue to respond to this troubling trend, the need for a united front against hate and discrimination remains paramount.
Source: Original article