Ethnic origin, migration, and racism are all issues that are closely intertwined in Germany. “Race” and “ethnicity” are not intrinsic human traits, but social constructs, which means that they are not fixed biological categories. Instead, they are concepts we have come to accept and which have come to have significant societal implications.

The United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination defines racial discrimination as “any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference‚ based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, or any other field of public life.”

The term “racism” is used to refer to discrimination against groups of people who have been “racialized” (those who are ascribed specific traits to differentiate them from the “white” majority or mainstream society), while also referring to their supposed biological differences and notions of shared origin, appearance, characteristics, and culture.

For example, antisemitism and antiziganism are directed against people and institutions that are perceived as Jewish or as Roma/Sinti and use different images, attributions and actions than, for example, anti-Black racism.

While discrimination on the basis of a person’s supposed ethnic origin, racist, or antisemitic assumptions can take the form of exclusion, exoticization, degrading treatment, insults, or other verbal, physical, or psychological violence on the individual or interpersonal level, it tends to manifest itself on the institutional level as actions that are carried out by an organization, for example, by means of its regulations, practices, and organizational culture. On the structural level, this happens through the production of knowledge, ideas, images, and perceptions that become entrenched over time and result in social inequality.

A number of studies such as the Afrozensus 2020 have shown that people of color, Black people, Muslims, Sinti and Roma, Jews, people with a migration history, or refugees continue to frequently experience discrimination despite legislation against it. Unfortunately, institutions of higher education like universities are not immune to racism and discrimination.

Antisemitism, antiziganism, anti-Muslim racism – and all other types of racism – have no place on the campus of Freie Universität Berlin. The same applies to all other forms of discrimination as well.

Antisemitism

Antisemitism is not tolerated at Freie Universität Berlin under any circumstances. The university’s position on antisemitism is clear: Jewish life on campus must not be endangered, and Jewish researchers, instructors, students, and other staff members must feel safe at university.

Due to the history of antisemitism in Germany, German universities and colleges have a particular obligation to confront antisemitism whenever it occurs and in whatever form it takes. For this reason, Freie Universität Berlin joins the other Berlin universities in expressly supporting the Berlin Charter “Berlin gegen Antisemitismus” from 2021: “Antisemitism takes on multiple forms within our society. It is not simply a form of discrimination – it is a fundamental worldview. Based on our responsibility to society and our awareness of the significance Jewish life holds in Germany, we see it as our duty to fight antisemitism in all its forms.”

Research on antisemitism, how it comes about and how it affects people, relevant courses for students or other studying and teaching options, as well as the ability to transfer knowledge to advocates and decision-making authorities, are essential for successfully combating antisemitism. In terms of the discussion surrounding different definitions of antisemitism (primarily the working definition of antisemitism as agreed upon by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance [IHRA] and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism [JDA] that was published in response), Freie Universität Berlin refers to the following statement made by the German Rectors’ Conference on November 19, 2024, in defense of academic freedom: “The discussion about the definition of antisemitism is the subject and task of academic debate. Political decisions cannot and must not jeopardize or prevent this academic discourse. State intervention in the way in which this academic discourse is organized at universities is not permissible.”

The university will report any criminal behavior related to discrimination should it become aware of any such activities. Furthermore, Freie Universität Berlin does not authorize any events that propagate discriminatory content or attitudes.