As of: February 11, 2024, 3:00 p.m
By: Tobias Gmach
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Well connected and active in her voluntary work: Feldafinger Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (l.), anti-Semitism commissioner for North Rhine-Westphalia, here with Holocaust contemporary witness Margot Friedländer.
© Riedl/dpa
As an anti-Semitism officer in North Rhine-Westphalia, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger is in demand like never before.
The former Federal Minister of Justice from Feldafing, now still an FDP district councilor, talks in an interview about her special volunteer position - and how she assesses hatred of Jews and right-wing extremism in the district.
Feldafing – Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger currently commutes particularly often between two worlds – the Five Lakes Region and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The major regional differences always come through when you talk to the former Federal Minister of Justice about the increasing hatred of people of the Jewish faith.
The 72-year-old FDP district councilor from Feldafing, born in Minden, has been the anti-Semitism commissioner for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for more than five years.
A voluntary work for which she recently received the Jülich Society's Prize for Civil Courage against Forgetting and for Tolerance.
And an activity that has changed significantly since the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel.
For Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, it goes without saying that she not only works against anti-Semitism and right-wing extremism from her office in the State Chancellery in Düsseldorf, but also in the Starnberg district.
A conversation about their commitment in front of and behind the scenes.
Ms. Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, are you currently more in demand as an anti-Semitism officer than ever before?
Already in 2018, when the state government named me, anti-Semitism was increasing in Germany.
And even more so with Hamas firing rockets at Israel in 2021. But October 7, 2023 really broke everything, and since then the work has been much more intensive.
In what way?
After October 7th, my main focus was to visit the Jewish communities.
They were very unsettled and scared.
I am now invited even more often to events, but also to internal meetings.
I have been making all-round visits to schools, universities, competence networks and memorial sites since 2018 and my office has also offered numerous events, particularly to prevent anti-Semitism.
Now many inquiries are about Hamas terror and the Middle East conflict.
And about the violence and hate speech against Jews.
I take your concerns very seriously.
I will pass on information about possible crimes or threats.
I am in good contact with the State Criminal Police Office.
And I regularly receive confidential information from the constitutional protection authorities.
Has anti-Semitism reached a new peak in Germany?
Yes, this can be measured solely by the sharp increase in anti-Semitic crimes since October 7th.
The number in North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, more than doubled in the second half of the year.
And that doesn't even include hatred and agitation on the internet.
How did you actually become the first person in North Rhine-Westphalia to do this voluntary work?
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First there was a state parliament resolution without a name suggestion, then I was appointed by the government - probably also because as Federal Minister of Justice I was committed to dealing with injustice during the time of National Socialism or, for example, I pushed legislation in the 1990s that prevented the Holocaust -Denial as sedition becomes a criminal offense.
I also created legal protection for circumcision.
Please give a concrete example of your work.
I discuss a lot at schools with a high proportion of immigrants.
I sometimes experience a heated atmosphere, the teachers are very challenged.
I am using my budget to support the first 100 digital tours of the Auschwitz concentration camp with an on-site guide.
This is a new, very helpful form of communication of remembering.
When pictures of Hitler or Nazi sayings appear in class chats: How do you go about clarifying them?
Offensive.
I first ask, “Do you actually know who that is?” and remind you that because of Hitler’s racial doctrine, people were deported and killed because of their skin color or their faith.
I'm talking more about "hatred of Jews"; not everyone is familiar with anti-Semitism.
I have found that it is good for students to learn about local history.
According to the motto: On November 9, 1938, synagogues and clothing stores around the corner were torched and the owners were kidnapped.
Six million Jews murdered: That's frightening, but an abstract number that doesn't appeal emotionally to young people.
She probably won't ignore the topic in the Starnberg district either. To what extent does your office impact the Five Lakes Region?
There is no Jewish community in the district.
For example, I campaigned for better care of the Jewish cemetery in Feldafing.
I am also part of the Starnberg Dialogue, which deals with the topic of anti-Semitism.
Occasionally I also receive confidential emails or letters from citizens who feel insulted and hurt by comments.
They don't have to be Jews.
It is often about an alleged global conspiracy that Corona has made even worse.
An example: The Jews controlled the vaccines, which were implants and would turn people into slaves.
Whenever there is a crisis, Jews become scapegoats.
How strong is right-wing extremism in the district?
Of course there are always anomalies from time to time, but they cannot be compared at all with my impressions and experiences in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Are you noticing an increase in right-wing populism or extremism in local politics?
Not as much in the district as elsewhere.
There is an AfD district council, so you can't talk about a shift in the discourse.
Of course he pushes the topics of refugees and foreigners.
He also sits in the state parliament.
The AfD faction has developed towards a Höcke course.
And he is fascist and right-wing extremist.
Did you yourself take part in the demonstrations against right-wing extremism?
Yes, at a huge one with a five-digit number of participants in Düsseldorf.
I was also recently in Seefeld, and dialogues dealing with this topic are planned in the district in April and May.
I try to be present on site – also internally as an advisor and informant.
I am a member of the Round Table against Extremism and am very happy that so many citizens are now taking to the streets, even in smaller towns.
But the protests must not be a flash in the pan; the commitment must not stop.
Speaking of quitting: How long will you continue as anti-Semitism officer?
The coalition of the CDU and the Greens confirmed me for another five years in mid-2022.
But that would really be the worst.
And will you run again as district councilor in 2026?
I haven't thought about that yet.
I don't want to rule it out completely.
But I'm 72 years old now.
I don't have to give the Biden vote.