Germany clicks new idea to fight Anti-Semitism: Visit Nazi concentration camps

Berlin, January 11: Anti-Semitism is something which creates a feeling of hatred among the people and nowadays same is the situation is of Germany. Alarmed by displays of anti-Semitism among new immigrants to Germany, a German politician has offered a novel idea that appears to be gaining traction: required visits to Nazi concentration camp memorials.

The suggestion by Sawsan Chebli, a Berlin city government official who is Muslim, came amid concern over anti-Semitism among migrants from Muslim-majority countries. She told that concentration camp visits should become part of integration courses for migrants. Josef Schuster, the head of Germany’s Central Council of Jews, told the idea is “good in principle” but there are questions over details. He said it wouldn’t work simply to summon people to concentration camp visits.

Schuster said well-prepared visits would be “absolutely important” for older schoolchildren and for asylum-seekers.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Germany should appoint an anti-Semitism commissioner to counter growing hate speech against Jews and Israel from both it is homegrown far right and the immigrant community.

“Every criminal act motivated by anti-Semitism is one too many and a shame for our country,” de Maiziere told.

Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said that although Berlin opposed the move by US President Donald Trump, it strongly condemned protests where “hatred” of Israel and Jews was expressed.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier declared himself “shocked and shamed” by the incidents and said rejection of anti-Semitism was a “non-negotiable” condition for living in Germany

Recently Germany had drafted a new law which shows a red eye to those who have a feeling of anti-Semitism. As per the new law, the country could see deporting migrants who express anti-Semitic views.