WDR: Nemi El-Hassan is apparently not supposed to moderate the WDR program "Quarks"

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Nemi El-Hassan: "I'm very sorry for all of this"

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Tilman Schenk / WDR

The controversial journalist Nemi El-Hassan should not be the presenter of the WDR science program "Quarks" for the time being after accusations of anti-Semitism.

According to a report by the German Press Agency, this is the position of artistic director Tom Buhrow.

In his view, the problem is not so much her participation in an al-Quds demonstration seven years ago, as she clearly distanced herself from it.

However, there have also been problematic likes from her in social networks recently.

"It's a difficult, difficult trade-off," said Buhrow.

Moderation would in any case lead to an inappropriate politicization of the program.

However, one is considering letting El-Hassan work as an author for »Quarks«, said Buhrow - not in front of, but behind the camera.

There was criticism of this position in the Broadcasting Council.

In response to a request from SPIEGEL, the WDR announced that the dpa report depicts the discussion on further cooperation with El-Hassan.

"However, a final decision has not yet been made," it said.

At the annual Al-Quds demonstrations in Berlin, anti-Semitic slogans were repeatedly shouted in the past and symbols of the pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah movement were shown.

"I'm very sorry for all of this"

The whole case was started by reporting by "Bild": The newspaper had announced that the journalist was at an Al-Quds demonstration in Berlin several years ago.

As a result, El-Hassan distanced himself from the demo in 2014.

"Now that I reflect on this time in my life, I cannot rule out having said things that are anti-Zionist and serve against Israel," she had told SPIEGEL: "I am very sorry for all of that.

I am ashamed of this time. "

The WDR then announced that it was suspending the planned start of the moderation of El-Hassan on the science program "Quarks" for the time being.

Actually, the 28-year-old should have started in November.

The »Bild« later reported on further allegations against El-Hassan.

According to this, she marked “anti-Israeli to anti-Semitic” content with “like” on Instagram in the summer of 2021.

»Anti-Semitic positions cannot and must not have a place in the WDR«

Numerous members of the Broadcasting Council spoke up in the council and mostly criticized the fact that El-Hassan should continue to work for the WDR. You cannot have a seat in front of or behind the camera. "We are not allowed to pretend that there are different important areas of responsibility in the WDR," it said in a request to speak. The WDR is doing itself no favor. The problem is less the sins of youth than the statements from the most recent times. One could express criticism of Israeli politics, but joy at violence against Israel was in no way to be tolerated.

The Chairman of the Broadcasting Council, Andreas Meyer-Lauber, said: "Anti-Semitic positions cannot and must not have a place in the WDR."

How one then makes a personnel decision in detail is not a matter for the Broadcasting Council.

"We can't make that decision for you here today," he said to Buhrow.

The basic direction of the requests to speak was however clear.

He wanted a solution that was acceptable to all sides.

After the criticism surrounding the Al-Quds demo, several hundred publicists, cultural workers and academics had expressed their solidarity with El-Hassan in a public letter.

The debate has "lost all measure and balance," it said.

ptz / dpa