A small shop in the northern German city of Flensburg has caused widespread shock by displaying a sign on its window banning Jews from entering. The sign also read: “Nothing personal, not even antisemitism, I just can’t stand you.” The message was removed following police intervention, but an image had already spread online. The shop owner defended the action, stating he had not anticipated the scale of public outrage and claimed he put it up out of frustration over the events in Gaza. The local public prosecutor has now opened a hate speech investigation against him.
For Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany, this is a clear case of antisemitism that requires decisive action. In the state of Schleswig-Holstein, where Flensburg is located, reported antisemitic incidents have surged dramatically, rising from 120 in 2022 to 588 in 2023.
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