Status: 08.11.2023, 15:03 PM
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North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst speaks at a press conference in Düsseldorf. © David Young/dpa
The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is stepping up the fight against anti-Semitism and the protection of Jewish institutions. Among other things, the state is increasing the funds for structural security measures at synagogues and other Jewish institutions by an additional 11.5 million euros, as Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) said on Wednesday in Düsseldorf.
Düsseldorf - In a ten-point plan adopted by the cabinet, numerous measures for prevention and education in schools are also anchored. For example, a school reporting system is to be established in order to find out whether and where there are anti-Semitic focal points in the school system.
In order to be able to better identify possible anti-Semitic and Islamist signs and slogans, for example at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, judges and prosecutors are to be trained in a targeted manner. Police officers are already being supported by translators at demonstrations, said Wüst. In addition, the authorities are increasingly relying on Islamic studies expertise. But public prosecutors' offices and courts must also have appropriate instruments at hand. "Anyone who brings hatred of Israel or Jews into our society will feel the full force of the rule of law," said Wüst.
According to the state's anti-Semitism commissioner, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, more than 7 anti-Semitic incidents have been registered in NRW since the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 380 alone. "More are coming in every day," she said. The incidents ranged from tearing up the Israeli flag, damaging property and marking houses with the Star of David to violent crimes. By comparison, there were around 2023 anti-Semitic incidents in NRW in the first half of 100, dpa