Upper Palatinate Imam receives suspended sentence for hatred of Jews

A preacher has been sentenced to a seven-month suspended prison term for antisemitic incitement in a mosque in Upper Palatinate. The man had called for the killing of Jews during a prayer following the Hamas terror attack on Israel in October 2023.

As reported by the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office, the 37-year-old confessed during the criminal proceedings for incitement before the district court in Weiden. For this reason, the case was not heard in a public trial. Instead, the accused received a penal order from the court, which, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, is now legally binding.

According to the penal order, the preacher had initially wished for a Palestinian victory in the war between the terrorist group Hamas and Israel while reading intercessions in the mosque. He then repeatedly called on God to kill Jews. “In doing so, the defendant incited hatred against Jews and contributed to a hostile climate towards Jewish people, which encourages attacks against them,” emphasised the investigators. Around 50 worshippers heard the antisemitic remarks.

When questioned by Bayerischer Rundfunk, the mosque emphasised that it was not antisemitic and was committed to interreligious dialogue and coexistence among all religions. The preacher had acted as a substitute when the regular imam was unavailable due to work commitments. After the allegations came to light, the substitute preacher was no longer engaged.

The Attorney General’s Office took over the case due to its fundamental importance. The Central Antisemitism Commissioner of the Bavarian judiciary is attached to the authority. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the accused preacher must also pay an additional €4,000 to the Research and Information Centre for Antisemitism Bavaria (RIAS Bavaria).

related

Subscribe to EJC newsletter

Get EJC's bi-weekly newsletter, including the latest statements and news from the European Jewish communities, direct to your inbox.

European Jewish Congress will use the information you provide on this form to contact you. We will treat your information with respect and will not share it with others. By clicking Subscribe, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

Events & Meetings

EJC holds concert in Krakow to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

EJC Executive Vice-President Raya Kalenova addressed the hundreds of participants at the event, which included distinguished policymakers, diplomats, leaders of Jewish communities from across the world, and Holocaust survivors, emphasising the need for the stories of the millions murdered under the Nazi regime to continue to be told for generations to come.