Claims that Germany’s ministry of education and research aimed to penalise academics supporting pro-Palestinian demonstrations at a Berlin university have been declared as “unfounded speculation” by the said ministry. Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger had to clarify her department’s reaction to a police-initiated disbanding of a pro-Palestinian gathering at Berlin’s Free University in May of last year. This incident led to the arrest of 79 individuals.
In support of the students’ right to peaceful protest, which includes occupying university lands, a letter was signed by 130 predominantly German academicians. This letter, which emphasises the constitution-given right to assemble peacefully without consideration for the expressed viewpoint, now has 1,073 signatures.
Minister Stark-Watzinger expressed her astonishment upon receiving the letter to the Bild tabloid, criticising its unilateral viewpoint for excluding mentions of Hamas’s aggression against Israel.
The situation escalated when leaked messages revealed that ministry staff had pondered whether any letter signatories could have their public funding withdrawn. Observations of these leaked conversations sparked outrage, with academia perceiving them as efforts to limit freedom of speech and independent research.
In a move to defuse tension, the minister dismissed her state secretary, asserting she was unaware of the official’s “vaguely articulated request”. However, further leaks seemingly challenge the minister’s narrative. A leaked group chat from May 9th, published by Der Spiegel magazine, indicates the minister and her close advisors appeared to be discussing criticism that her Bild interview was an intimidation tactic aimed at academics by threatening their funding.
While the minister purportedly informed her staff that such claims were “ludicrous”, as she isn’t in charge of funding decisions, another advisor implied that the impression from the interview might be useful. According to Der Speigel, an official stated that they would not object if this engendered an informal, “voluntary” and self-imposed anti-Semitism clause among some perplexed individuals.
While the ministry remains silent on the leaked messages, Ms. Stark-Watzinger continues to defend the importance of research freedom. Simultaneously, she acknowledges concerns from Jewish students who feel threatened due to anti-Semitism present in German university campuses.
Following a heated second hearing, Kai Gehring, the head of the Bundestag’s education and research committee insisted that Germany derives significant benefits from autonomous educational institutions and research freedom. In his conversation with The Irish Times, he’s critical of the ministry’s attempted interference, stating it as detrimental and urging its non-recurrence.
Gehring, a member of the Green party, believes that this challenging discussion paves the way to further reinforce the significance of freedom in scientific research.
The DHV, a renowned association of university professors and lecturers, which houses 33,500 members, cautioned the minister of the importance of frankness to redeem confidence. Professor Lambert Koch, the president of DHV, questioned the feasibility of Germany’s standing as a global advocate for scientific freedom if the allegations of the ministry deliberating stopping financial aid for contentious researchers aren’t fully alleviated.
Post the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel, creative and scientific personalities in Germany, who have criticised Israel’s reaction in Gaza, have experienced project cancellations and suspension of public fundings.
The Bundestag intends to propose a resolution which isn’t legally obligatory, recommending arts and science funding applicants to duly reject anti-Semitism and acknowledge Israel’s right of sovereignty.
Earlier in May, the Federal Arts Minister of Germany disclosed a legal study that stated that although such conditions could be legally executed, they are neither improved nor recommended as they mandate an oversight structure, which allows potential misuse.