AfD politician blocked from Halle synagogue commemoration

AfD politician Hans-Thomas Tillschneider faced a blockade by members of the Jewish Students Union Germany on October 9, 2026, while attempting to attend a commemoration for the 2019 Halle synagogue attack. Tillschneider, the Vice President of the State Parliament, intended to represent the Parliament President at the event. Protesters formed a human chain to prevent his entry, stating they would not allow the commemoration to be “hijacked.”

Following the incident, Tillschneider described the 2019 attack in a social media post as a “terrible rampage” by a “group of fanatical students,” notably omitting terms such as “antisemitic” or “right-wing extremist.” The 2019 attack, which targeted a synagogue on Yom Kippur, resulted in the deaths of Jana Lange and Kevin Schwarze.

Max Privorozki, chairman of the Jewish Community of Halle, expressed understanding for the students' motivations but stated that he generally rejects blockades. Privorozki noted that while the AfD contains antisemites, he is not fearful of a potential AfD government. He also clarified that while no official ban on Tillschneider existed, the politician had not received a personal invitation to the public event.