German Antisemitism Commissioner Felix Klein Calls for Tougher Laws and Upholds Political Firewall

Felix Klein, the Federal Government’s commissioner for Jewish life and the fight against antisemitism, urged a revision of Germany’s criminal code after the Islamist‑motivated attack on the Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin. He said the assault, which left a Polish woman dead and was carried out by a suspect identified as Abdul Ballout, highlighted the need to criminalise expressions of sympathy for terrorist organisations such as IS and Hamas.

In a separate interview, Klein warned that the political “brand‑mauer” – the practice of refusing cooperation with the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) – must be maintained. He criticised recent remarks by Saxony’s Minister‑President Michael Kretschmer that suggested the firewall was outdated, and underscored rising antisemitic incidents after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Klein announced he will leave his post in August to serve as a diplomat at Germany’s representation to the OECD in Paris.