Middle East Conflict
Since the attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023 and the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, Freie Universität Berlin has increasingly drawn public attention with regard to issues such as antisemitism, racism, discrimination, and political tensions on campus.
This page is a collection of frequently asked questions for media outlets and journalists, providing them with an overview of our specific protective measures, information on support services, and current institutional and legal frameworks.
Measures Taken against Antisemitism
A dedicated position at Freie Universität was established to address the needs of those affected by antisemitic discrimination specifically.
Prof. a.D. Dr. Rainer Kampling, Prof. Dr. Marina Allal, and Prof. Dr. Alexander Libman are the contact persons for university members affected by antisemitism at Freie Universität Berlin. They can be reached via email at ansprechperson-antisemitismus@fu-berlin.de.
Rainer Kampling represents Freie Universität Berlin on the board of directors of the Selma Stern Center for Jewish Studies Berlin-Brandenburg, of which he is a founding member. He currently coordinates the collaborative research project “Christliche Signaturen des zeitgenössischen Antisemitismus. Forschung, Analyse und Vermittlung” (“Christian Signatures of Contemporary Antisemitism: Research, Analysis, and Communication”).
Prof. Dr. Marina Allal and Prof. Dr. Alexander are liaison lecturers of the Network of Jewish Lecturers at Freie Universität Berlin.
University management has also invited students who have reported feeling unsafe on campus to join the discussion and help Freie Universität respond to the needs of those affected. These discussions are still ongoing and more meetings between university management and those affected by antisemitism are being planned.
Jewish students who experience discrimination are encouraged to contact the Diversity and Antidiscrimination Office. Members of this office have years of professional experience in the field and are well equipped to deal with discrimination and its underlying mechanisms. They have the skills necessary to support and advise those affected by discrimination. The office is also in contact with external specialists who provide expert advice on the issue of antisemitism. In addition, the Diversity and Antidiscrimination Office offers empowerment workshops for students who have experienced racism.
Students can also make use of structures at Freie Universität Berlin that have been specifically established to provide psychological support (support.points).
Additional Measures
Additional measures are currently being planned and expanded upon, for example, regular direct addresses made by those responsible for ensuring security and raising awareness on campus. University management also sends mass emails to all Freie Universität members to raise awareness, and exchanges and coordinates additional preventative measures with other Berlin-based universities and colleges.
University management places great importance on ensuring that antisemitic and discriminatory behavior is documented and monitored. Where applicable, criminal behavior is reported to the authorities.
University management is also working closely together with departmental heads regarding measures and recommendations for combatting antisemitism and racism. They are working to raise awareness of the current legal provisions and regulations in place at Freie Universität Berlin and helping to establish courses and guidance for instructors on dealing with the conflict in the Middle East. As of January 2024, a range of special courses are also being offered for instructors, staff members, and students (as well as students training to become teachers).
Trial: Lahav Shapira vs. Freie Universität Berlin
The lawsuit brought against Freie Universität Berlin by student Lahav Shapira has been dismissed by Berlin’s Administrative Court. The court determined that the plaintiff’s claim to individual rights based on Section 5b of the Berlin Higher Education Act (Berliner Hochschulgesetz, BerlHG) was unsubstantiated.
Freie Universität Berlin will continue the prevention work it has been doing.
“Students must be able to move around Freie Universität Berlin without fear of being excluded or threatened,” says Professor Günter M. Ziegler, president of Freie Universität Berlin. “Our aim is to combat discrimination and promote diversity on campus. We want to foster mutual respect among our students, instructors, and employees and ensure that Freie Universität is a safe place for everyone.”
The student Lahav Shapira filed a lawsuit against Freie Universität Berlin with Berlin’s Administrative Court (reference number: 12 K 356/24). He accused the university of failing to fulfill its obligations in accordance with Section 5b of the Berlin Higher Education Act, whereby universities are obligated to prevent discrimination – including discrimination motivated by antisemitism.
Lahav Shapira filed a lawsuit against Freie Universität Berlin with Berlin’s Administrative Court (reference number: 12 K 356/24). He is accusing the university of failing to fulfill its obligations in accordance with Section 5b of the Berlin Higher Education Act (Berliner Hochschulgesetz, BerlHG), whereby universities are obligated to prevent discrimination – including discrimination motivated by antisemitism. Shapira also claims that a negative climate built up at Freie Universität over time and that this infringed upon his right to study at university free from discrimination. The next court date is scheduled for March 23, 2026.
In February 2024, Lahav Shapira was attacked in Berlin’s Mitte district, which is not where Freie Universität Berlin’s campus is located, by a fellow student. Shapira suffered severe injuries from his assailant. In April 2025 the Tiergarten District Court convicted the assailant to three years in prison and determined that antisemitism was the motive. Berlin’s Regional Court is currently still negotiating appeal proceedings in this case.
The current lawsuit under deliberation at Berlin’s Administrative Court has not been filed against the assailant, but against Freie Universität. The university is being accused of not having taken sufficient measures to prevent antisemitism and thereby contributing to a negative climate.
Freie Universität Berlin will refrain from commenting on this issue, as the details of the case are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings. We take the safety concerns of our students and their input very seriously and we are committed to supporting those whose lives have been impacted by discrimination.
Freie Universität Berlin has taken a number of measures to support those affected by antisemitism. We work to ensure that no one who has experienced discrimination must go through it alone. Because many discriminatory acts are not punishable by law, Freie Universität focuses its energy on providing specific offers of support, as well as a strategy of educating and raising awareness.
This includes the following measures:
- An initial central contact person for people who have been affected by antisemitism was appointed in November 2023. After that, two additional contact persons were appointed. They offer support and advice to individuals affected by antisemitism.
- A broad array of workshops, forums for dialogue, and training courses on antisemitism awareness and prevention were held for students and employees. Additional offerings touched on other issues related to diversity and discrimination.
- The support.point network provides easily accessible, confidential psychological counseling in the form of open consultations offered across campus.
- Posters and graffiti with antisemitic and/or discriminatory content are quickly removed from university property.
- A Code of Conduct was adopted and communicated across the university. It lays out the core values of our university and emphasizes the importance of treating each other with mutual respect.
- The university has been engaged in conversation with Jewish organizations and external support services in order to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences.
- Safety measures on campus and for individual events are regularly reviewed and adapted in close coordination with the authorities.
If someone has been in a situation that felt overwhelming or threatening, we are here for them. We will respond quickly to their concerns and will take time to listen and make sure they get the support they need. Freie Universität also offers a wealth of easily accessible support services for anyone affected by discrimination.
The university has a regular security presence on campus in the form of personnel whose primary duties include surveillance and building security services. Security measures are increased in specific situations or during larger events, and we also coordinate with the police in special cases. We are motivated by the following principles: creating a sense of security, promoting trust, and ensuring that our campus is a place where everyone can move freely and feel safe.
Freie Universität Berlin is committed to upholding its responsibility as a place of academic freedom and open discourse. Freedom of opinion, freedom of speech, and academic freedom are constitutional rights. They apply across Germany and on our university campus. They are the foundation of research, teaching, and societal interaction.
We take antisemitic incidents very seriously at Freie Universität Berlin. Anyone who has been impacted by antisemitism does not need to feel alone. We have three contact persons for individuals affected by antisemitism who can provide confidential advice and support. Each case is documented and reviewed. Depending on the severity and type of incident, additional bodies are notified so that disciplinary or legal action can be taken.
Furthermore, Freie Universität Berlin regularly submits reports to the Berlin Senate’s department with responsibility for education, detailing all the complaints lodged at the university that constitute discrimination according to the German General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG) and the Berlin State Antidiscrimination Act (Landesantidiskriminierungsgesetz, LADG). Incidents that do not fall under this legislation are anonymized and documented internally. This is for transparency purposes as well as to ensure that we are continually improving our internal university structures.
This is something that is very important to address. Everyone has the right to express their political opinion on our campus provided this takes place within the scope of an individual’s right to freedom of opinion as enshrined in the German constitution and in line with the terms laid out in our Policy on Political Activity and Protests on Campus. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that all students are able to move around Freie Universität Berlin without fear of being excluded or threatened.
Antisemitism is not an opinion. It is a form of discrimination that can be punishable by law, for example, when statements are based on criminal elements, such as sedition, or when someone uses unconstitutional symbols. We maintain an overview of the events held on campus by the various institutions and departments and regularly check the posters put up in our hallways. If they contravene our guidelines, we may have to resort to legal action or other methods. Our possibilities for action are more limited when it comes to the activities of student-led groups outside our immediate control. Nevertheless, we take indications of any potentially problematic activities very seriously and evaluate possible courses of action on a case-by-case basis.
The appropriate course of action is less clear where symbols and statements are not necessarily punishable by law, but are still perceived as threatening or antisemitic. Here, we have opted for a strategy of educating and raising awareness among our members. Our aim is to ensure that our campus is a place where debate can take place in a manner that is safe for everyone. Our Code of Conduct makes it very clear: we do not look away when others are discriminated against.
Freie Universität Berlin developed a Diversity Strategy and Action Plan in 2021 and officially passed its Antidiscrimination Policy in 2024. We also adopted a Code of Conduct in 2025. This is a framework that applies to all Freie Universität members and guests. It sets a standard for behavior, ensuring that the university and its members embody a culture of mutual respect, actively combat discrimination, remain open to points of view that differ from their own, and take shared responsibility for maintaining a constructive climate of debate.
Update Status: 23.03.2026
FAQ on Francesca Albanese’s Attendance of the 2025 ESIL Annual Conference at Freie Universität Berlin
No, this conference is being organized by the European Society of International Law (ESIL) and scholars at Freie Universität who are themselves members of ESIL. The ESIL Annual Conference takes place in a different location every year. It is an annual event aimed at facilitating discussions and promoting research in the field of international law.
In accordance with Article 5.3 of Germany’s Basic Law, which protects the principle of academic freedom, researchers have the right to independently decide upon specific topics, formats, and guests when organizing academic events.
Francesca Albanese is a special rapporteur for the United Nations, tasked with following and reporting on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In her capacity as human rights expert and by invitation of one of ESIL’s interest groups, she will be discussing current topics in international law with other experts in a pre-conference workshop. The pre-conference events have been organized independently of the conference by the interest groups in question; the individual interest groups bear responsibility for the content of these workshops and how they are implemented. This year, twenty interest groups from ESIL are organizing pre-conference workshops in which more than sixty different scholars have been invited to speak on a range of topics and perspectives.
This year’s conference is on “Reconstructing International Law.” Those attending the event will address the future of international law from institutional, normative, historical, and theoretical perspectives. This includes controversial perspectives as part of the academic freedom enshrined in Article 5.3 of Germany’s Basic Law. ESIL is an independent scholarly association that serves as a platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and students interested in international law.
Inviting specific individuals to speak at an academic event does not mean that the organizers or the Executive Board of Freie Universität Berlin agree with the political opinions of these individuals. Science and research thrive on debate and sharing ideas, even when those ideas are controversial. Universities have a duty to provide spaces to discuss topics that demand thoughtful arguments and articulated perspectives – spaces for open and critical dialogue.
Yes. Like all universities in Germany, Freie Universität Berlin has an obligation to uphold academic freedom and the autonomy of its professors and researchers in accordance with Article 5.3 of Germany’s Basic Law. This includes the ability to explore controversial or highly disputed topics within the framework of academic inquiry.
Freie Universität takes public debate and criticism seriously. At the same time, academic events serve as a forum for critical debate and engagement. It is the task of the scholars invited to speak at such events and the audience to situate arguments in their appropriate contexts and to facilitate debate.
As an institution, Freie Universität Berlin does not comment on individual political issues, nor does it take an institutional stance on any statements made in the context of an academic event held at Freie Universität. For more information on this topic, see Freie Universität Berlin’s Policy on Political Activity and Protests on Campus.
In order for academic culture to thrive, controversial voices must also be heard and granted a platform for debate. This is the only way to enable researchers to place complex international issues into context, and for students to develop the skills they need to engage with these issues in their own academic and scientific work.