The Berlin Senate has decided to appoint a state contact person to combat antisemitism in universities, it announced on Tuesday.
The move was proposed by Sen. for Science, Health and Care Dr. Ina Czyborra, who said, “The senate’s decision to establish a state-level contact person to combat antisemitism at universities represents another key component in the prevention of antisemitism at Berlin’s institutions of higher learning.”
She explained that the contact person will monitor current measures, advise the institutions, and coordinate universities’ existing antisemitism representatives.
“Combating antisemitic structures remains a significant challenge, but today’s Senate decision brings us a big step forward,” Czyborra added.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner wrote on X: “Following the antisemitic incidents, we are specifically strengthening the safety of Jewish students. This further reinforces our measures to protect Jewish life in Berlin.” However, AFD politician Joana Cotar sarcastically responded to his tweet by writing. “Sure, a contact person will sort it out.”
The position has been advertised and is to be filled no later than January 1, 2026.
It is the legal responsibility of universities to prevent antisemitic discrimination
Since the amendment of the Berlin Higher Education Act in 2021, it has been the legal responsibility of universities to prevent antisemitic discrimination. This is unique to the capital, and is not the case in the rest of the country.
Following the spike in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, the “State Conference of Rectors and Presidents of Berlin Universities” (LKRP) met to express solidarity with Israel and stress that a zero tolerance policy for antisemitism.
A Jewish student is set to take the Free University of Berlin (FU) to trial over its alleged failure to combat antisemitism. Lahav Shapira was attacked and wounded by another student in February 2024; she subsequently accused the university of not preventing antisemitic discrimination, thus violating the Berlin Higher Education Act in which section 5b (2) says that universities are obliged to prevent discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnic origin, racist or antisemitic attribution, and to eliminate existing discrimination.
Presiding Judge Edgar Fischer of the Administrative Court of Berlin ruled on Tuesday that a trial will be needed to determine whether the university has taken sufficient measures to protect Jewish students. The trial is expected to take place in October.