A letter signed by over 300 filmmakers, artists, and cultural workers accuses the German government and cultural institutions of repressing pro-Palestinian voices and enabling Israeli state violence. The letter highlights the murder of Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassoun and criticizes Germany’s unwavering support for Israel as a form of silencing dissent and enabling the ongoing oppression of Palestinians. It asserts that German cultural institutions have disinvited, cancelled, or silenced artists and voices critical of Israeli policies, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship.
The letter condemns the conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism, arguing that this tactic is used to delegitimize Palestinian narratives and shield Israel from accountability for its actions. It specifically criticizes the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which the signatories believe is being weaponized to silence legitimate criticism of the Israeli government. The letter demands that German cultural institutions uphold principles of freedom of expression and artistic freedom, and end the practice of censoring or disinviting individuals based on their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The signatories pledge to resist these repressive measures and stand in solidarity with Palestinians.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/14/kmjm-m14.html