The musicians Shadi Al-Bourini and Shadi Al-Najjar used classic anti-Semitic prejudices in their songs and videos and used an unacceptable annihilation rhetoric, according to a statement by the Berlin Senate Administration. Therefore, the controversial appearance of the rapper in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday night was banned without further ado. "Not a foot's breadth to the anti-Semites and Israel's haters in our city," quoted Interior Senator Andreas Geisel.
The pro-Palestine rally on which the rappers wanted to appear, is logged in and take place. "However, under strict conditions such as the Al Quds march," added Senate spokesman Martin Pallgen. That is, there must be no calls for violence. Even flags or dolls may not be burned. Arabic-speaking interpreters of the police are on site.
"Israel's right to exist called into question"
Shadi Al-Bourini and Shadi Al-Najjar are accused of terrorist glorification, Israeli hatred and anti-Semitism. This has resulted in an evaluation of publicly available texts, said Interior Senate spokesman Martin Pallgen previously. "We also see approaches to sedition, which calls Israel's right to exist into question," says Pallgen.
The planned appearance of the rappers had been heavily criticized. According to "Tagesspiegel", they released the song "Strike a Blow at Tel Aviv" in 2014, in which they fantasize about bombing the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, razing it to the ground and "crushing" Jews.
Already on Tuesday, the American Jewish Committee Berlin (AJC) criticized: "It is unacceptable that this historic place is being called to murder Jews and that the worst anti-Semitic stereotypes are spreading." Former Greens MP Volker Beck said: "In front of the Brandenburg Gate no terrorist glorifiers may occur."
