Middle East Conflict
Pro-Palestinian Demonstration on February 8, 2024
Freie Universität Berlin was not associated with organizing the demonstration on February 8, 2024, in any way. It did not grant approval for the event to take place or for the participants to congregate on university property. The event took place on public property.
Should an activity not approved by the university encroach onto university property, Freie Universität reserves the right to deny access to its premises and to have any participants in such activities removed from university property.
Generally speaking, everyone in Germany has the right to freedom of assembly. Rallies and demonstrations held in public must be registered with the relevant authorities (in this case, the Berlin police department) with at least forty-eight hours’ notice before the organizers can officially invite people to attend their event. In line with Berlin’s Freedom of Assembly Act (Versammlungsfreiheitsgesetz), demonstrations that are held in public and have been authorized by the police may be allowed even on Freie Universität Berlin’s premises if the space used to assemble is freely accessible to the public.
University members are not permitted to hold demonstrations or similar political events in enclosed spaces on Freie Universität Berlin’s premises. An event of this nature would theoretically require the approval, or at the very least the authorization, of Freie Universität Berlin, in order to go ahead. The university has approved no such event or demonstration.
We are currently experiencing an alarming increase in the prevalence of hateful rhetoric and hate speech in our society. Antisemitism, racism, and discrimination are widespread societal issues that, unfortunately, also occur on university campuses. Freie Universität has filed charges against an individual based on recent social media activity. We expressly and fully distance ourselves from the hateful remarks made by this individual as conveyed in the materials presented on social media. The incident did not take place on university property, and to the best of our knowledge the person in questions is not a member of Freie Universität Berlin. The university has already filed criminal charges in accordance with Section 158 of the German Code of Criminal Procedure (Strafprozessordnung, StPO). (Last updated: February 13, 2024)
Measures Taken against Antisemitism
A dedicated position at Freie Universität was established in January 2024 to address the needs of those affected by antisemitic discrimination specifically.
Our contact person for individuals affected by antisemitism has over forty years of research expertise in Jewish-Christian relations and antisemitism, and is well connected to the Jewish community in Berlin and Israel. You are encouraged to contact him if you are affected by antisemitic discrimination, or if you witness antisemitic discrimination or acts taking place on campus. He also advises university management on the subject.
Over the past few weeks, university management has invited students who have reported feeling unsafe on campus to join the discussion and help Freie Universität respond to the needs of those affected. These discussions are still ongoing and more meetings between university management and those affected by antisemitism are being planned.
Jewish students who experience discrimination are encouraged to contact the Diversity and Antidiscrimination Office. Members of this office have years of professional experience in the field and are well equipped to deal with discrimination and its underlying mechanisms. They have the skills necessary to support and advise those affected by discrimination. The office is also in contact with external specialists who provide expert advice on the issue of antisemitism. In addition, the Diversity and Antidiscrimination Office offers empowerment workshops for students who have experienced racism.
Students can also make use of structures at Freie Universität Berlin that have been specifically established to provide psychological support (support.points).
Additional Measures
Additional measures are currently being planned and expanded upon, for example, regular direct addresses made by those responsible for ensuring security and raising awareness on campus. University management also sends mass emails to all Freie Universität members to raise awareness, and exchanges and coordinates additional preventative measures with other Berlin-based universities and colleges.
University management places great importance on ensuring that antisemitic and discriminatory behavior is documented and monitored. Where applicable, criminal behavior is reported to the authorities.
University management is also working closely together with departmental heads regarding measures and recommendations for combatting antisemitism and racism. They are working to raise awareness of the current legal provisions and regulations in place at Freie Universität Berlin and helping to establish courses and guidance for instructors on dealing with the conflict in the Middle East. As of January 2024, a range of special courses are also being offered for instructors, staff members, and students (as well as students training to become teachers).
Frequently Asked Questions on Protests and Organized Activity at Freie Universität Berlin in Response to the Middle East Conflict
Since the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, Freie Universität Berlin has expressed solidarity with the victims of the conflict in the Middle East, as well as its growing concern regarding subsequent developments in the region and their disastrous impacts on the civilian population.
In view of ongoing discourse on these issues, Freie Universität Berlin has been dedicated to upholding its founding principles of truth, freedom, and justice. We respect and value the plurality of voices and opinions held by members of our community and want to carve out a space where we can respectfully come together to discuss the complexities of the current situation in the Middle East. To this end, on December 5, 2023, the members of Freie Universität Berlin’s Executive Board sent an email message to everyone at our university, in which they emphasized the importance of upholding a campus culture founded on mutual respect, open dialogue, and responsibility. You can read the email message on the university website here.
With particular regard to recent protests on our university campus, we once again wish to clarify that while we strongly believe in freedom of speech and assembly, we do not – under any circumstances – tolerate antisemitism at Freie Universität Berlin, nor for any kind of discrimination based on a person’s nationality, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, social background, age, disability or health condition, gender, or sexual orientation, and are committed to tackling prejudice of this nature.
You can read the Executive Board’s previous statements here.
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)
The university has hosted events about the conflict in the Middle East and plans to host others in the future. The university management is currently working together with students and employees from diverse backgrounds to hear their perspectives and foster exchange and understanding. They have met with Jewish/Israeli groups as well as groups that sympathize with Palestinians. They have also spoken with others who do not align themselves with a particular group, but still wish to critically examine the situation in the Middle East. The university president and other members of the Executive Board have initiated and hosted these conversations in various settings and formats over the last few weeks, and there are plans to organize further events, including informational sessions, consultations, as well as lectures by renowned scholars, researchers, and members of relevant organizations.
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)
Following the events of October 7, 2023, we have seen a surge in the amount of antisemitic graffiti on campus. There has also been an increase in the number of aggressive flyers promoting protests and calling people to action. These are always removed as quickly as possible. If they contain content punishable by law, they are reported. Whenever Freie Universität Berlin is made aware of criminal behavior, this is immediately reported to the authorities.
So far, the university has filed twenty-three reports of criminal behavior to the police: Twenty of these were for trespassing following the occupation of a lecture hall on December 14, 2023; two for antisemitic graffiti; and one for political statements made at an information stand. Four additional charges were filed in the context of the lecture hall occupation: three due to physical assault and one due to defamation. Freie Universität Berlin is aware of three further instances in which charges have been filed by third parties: one due to a physical confrontation and an accusation of antisemitism on December 19, 2023. Here it must be noted that these latter complaints were not lodged by Freie Universität Berlin. In these cases, the police were contacted by the affected party directly; Freie Universität Berlin has no information about the identities of those affected, nor does it have insight into the events that led to these charges being filed. (Last updated: February 2, 2024)
The right of higher education institutions to enforce certain sanctions against university members in order to maintain law and order (“Ordnungsrecht”) – which also included exmatriculation among its most drastic measures – was repealed through an amendment to the Berlin Higher Education Act in 2021. That means that the university has no formal grounds to expel students in this context. However, if necessary to ensure regular university operations, certain measures lasting up to three months in total (such as banning individuals from the premises) may be enacted in order to protect public safety on campus. These measures are not taken lightly and are only carried out after much deliberation and prior consideration.
It is important to note in this regard that Freie Universität Berlin was not the organizer of the protest in lecture hall 1a on December 14, 2023. Freie Universität did not organize this event, nor did it grant approval for the event to take place or for the participants to congregate on university property. The university did not collect the personal information of the participants, nor does it plan to do so. Freie Universität will, however, bring charges against any violations of the law that it becomes aware of.
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)
Generally speaking, everyone in Germany has the right to freedom of assembly. Rallies and demonstrations held in public must be registered with the relevant authorities (in this case, the police in Berlin) with at least forty-eight hours’ notice before they can be announced. In line with Berlin’s Freedom of Assembly Act (Versammlungsfreiheitsgesetz), demonstrations that are held in public and have been authorized by the police may be allowed on Freie Universität Berlin’s premises if the space used to assemble is freely accessible to the public.
Demonstrations or similar political events in enclosed spaces on Freie Universität Berlin’s premises would theoretically require the approval, or at the very least the authorization, of Freie Universität Berlin, in order to go ahead. The university has approved no such event or demonstration. At first, the university did not interfere with the protest in lecture hall 1a on December 14, 2023. But when altercations took place and people began conducting themselves in a manner that did not adhere to the principles of respectful, open, and responsible dialogue, another course of action had to be taken.
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)
The occupation of the lecture hall on December 14, 2023, began at 11:30 a.m., at which point only a handful of students were in attendance. The participants expressed various demands to the university.
There were a few altercations between individuals participating in the pro-Palestinian protest and individuals who were there criticizing the event. That is why the university called the police. Representatives of both groups filed criminal charges. The disputes have been settled.
At that point in time, the university management was of the opinion that they need not interfere with the event since on-site observers were reporting that the participants were talking peacefully and respectfully with each other.
There were protesters sympathetic to Palestinians and Jewish and/or Israeli participants in the room at all times , with both groups participating in the discussion. Universities must act as a forum for such exchanges of ideas and opinions. Even if universities do not condone sit-ins and occupation as means of expressing ideas, they should certainly tolerate students who express themselves in a respectful, responsible, and dialogue-oriented manner within the framework of the law. This point was made clear to the organizers. The university should only call upon police assistance in vacating the premises as a last resort.
The situation took a different turn in the afternoon – podium speakers began making statements that were not reflective of peaceful, respectful, and open democratic dialogue and several altercations took place. At this point, the decision was made to ask the participants to leave the premises.
Some participants chose not to comply, and thus the university invoked its right to have individuals removed from university property with the help of the police around 4:00 p.m.
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)
In most cases, Freie Universität is not able to prepare for protests or other last-minute organized activities. The university receives no prior information regarding protests, flash mobs, and activities such as the occupation on December 14, 2023. Protests that take place in the vicinity of Freie Universität are registered with the police, not the university itself. As such, Freie Universität usually only learns of such events once they have already begun, through observations made by students or employees, or through social media.
Like other universities in Germany, Freie Universität Berlin is an open space used by more than 40,000 students and 4,600 employees. Creating any barrier or limitation to university members’ use of libraries, lecture halls, and other places of learning and exchange stands in direct opposition to a university’s purpose. Taking precautionary restrictive actions would be misguided and contrary to the principles of maintaining a culture of openness at the university.
Freie Universität Berlin does not have its own security service. University employees know what measures to take and who to contact in the event of protests on campus. Freie Universität has been working closely together with the relevant police unit to discuss appropriate measures for some time now.
Where possible, the university also sends a team to observe the situation in person and advise the university management on the next course of action. The members of this team are usually tasked with other administrative duties and are not qualified to make legal judgments or take measures independently.
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)
- Press release from December 15, 2023: Freie Universität Berlin’s Response to the Events of December 14, 2023, on Campus in Lecture Hall 1a
- Additional information can be found in the FAQs on this topic – Together against Hate and Discrimination on Campus (additional updates to come)
- University-wide email from the members of Freie Universität Berlin’s Executive Board on December 5, 2023.
- Official statement from November 6, 2023, issued by the LKRP (the State Conference of the Rectors and Presidents of the Higher Education Institutions in Berlin is made up of eleven state universities, colleges, and art schools as well as both church-affiliated universities of applied sciences in the capital)
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)