SWC Calls on University of Leipzig to Implement Already Adopted IHRA Principles; Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism

February 8, 2024

Berlin - February 8, 2024 - In response to a violent assault upon 2 journalists during a vigil on January 24, 2024 in Leipzig Market Square in which Pro-Palestinian demonstrators called for the annihilation of Israel, the Simon Wiesenthal Center has called upon the University of Leipzig to condemn the genocidal language directed towards Israelis and Jews, and to take measures against anti-Semitism based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of the term, which was adopted by the Studierendenrat of the University of Leipzig in March 2020.

The January 24th Vigil was marked by calls for the annihilation of the State of Israel, encouragement of violence against Israeli civilians, and praise for the genocidal attack by Hamas on October 7th.  Participants included Handala Leipzig, a faction notorious for orchestrating anti-Semitic demonstrations, as well as Students for Palestine, and other groups known for their support of Hamas.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, stated, "It is time to end the charade that Anti-Zionism is anything other than thinly disguised anti-Semitism.  Calling for the annihilation of the world’s only Jewish state and glorifying the murder of Israelis is not protest, it’s a call to genocide. Take measures against anti-Semitism consistent with the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism which defines calls to annihilate Israel as a clear form of anti-Semitism."

According to the Associazione Sapere Aude, a student group at the University of Leipzig, there is a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation and fear on campus among Jewish students. 

The Simon Wiesenthal Center calls upon the University of Leipzig to take proactive steps to protect its Jewish students from those glorifying the methods and goals of Palestinian Hamas terrorists.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center has offered its resources to the University of Leipzig to help combat all forms of anti-Semitism.

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Erik Simon at esimon@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

About the Simon Wiesenthal Center:
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).