Anti-Semitism
“Anti-Semitism plays a significant role in the AfD”
In Baden-Württemberg, the dispute over anti-Semitic set of members has gepalten the AfD group. Social scientist Jan Riebe accuses the AfD, to distance themselves too little of anti-Semitic currents.
DW: Mr. Riebe, you have engaged in the Amadeu-Antonio-Stiftung with the question of how antisem table, the party is the AfD, the Alternative for Germany. How is your balance sheet ?
Jan Riebe: The AfD is not genuinely anti-Semitic party. This would mean that anti-Semitism was the ideological bracket that holds the party together, this is not the case.
But in the AfD, many people are represented, the anti-Semitic ideas, to people, who have anti-Semitic view of the world, so believe that Jews for everything Bad in the world as puppet masters responsible. Anti-Semitism plays a significant role in the AfD.
What evidence have you found for it ?
You can always find again by AfD members a clear anti-Semitic Remarks in the network, for example, also on Facebook. Some examples: The former member of the management Board of the AfD-district Association Weser mountain country, Gunnar Baumgart, wrote in an article, Zyklon b was used for the protection of life. Not a single Jew had been killed.
Dirk Hoffmann from the AfD Board of Directors-Sachsen-Anhalt accused the Israelis of that, what were you doing in the Palestinian territories, the Holocaust, same thing. Currently, it is used in the AfD is also popular to make Jews in General or Individual responsible for the Migration to Europe for refugees coming to Europe. This was the Plan of the Jews, it was said. It is well-known anti-Semitic stereotypes that occur updated in the AfD.
Did the AfD against perpetrators of such Statements?
Not in all cases, there were consequences. Gunnar Baumgart announced, resign from the party, harm to the party to avert. In the case of the Statement of Hoffmann, the AfD is not to put him in Lutherstadt Wittenberg as a mayor candidate, where he won, but good results achieved.
Volker Olenciak, struck also with the posts, which accused the Israeli genocide of the Palestinians moved in as a direct candidate in the state Parliament of Saxony-Anhalt. It shows how the AfD with anti-Semitism bypasses. In individual cases, they positioned themselves when it comes out of their own party, but is holding you back again and again. A strong position against anti-Semitism it’s not in the AfD at all.
What is with the case of AfD member Wolfgang Gedeon, wants to verharmloste in a book, the mass murder of the Jews as a “certain crime”, and now after the split-up of the AfD group in the state Parliament from the AfD escape?
Again, there is a lack of a clear stance in the AfD. Party Deputy leader Alexander Gauland criticised Mr Gedeon for his publications, but at the same time Bernd Höcke, whose Statements, however, are very questionable.
The former group chief in Stuttgart, Germany and AfD-Federal Chairman Jörg Meuthen argue with the AfD party Chairman Frauke Petry. From both a clear position against anti-Semitism is missing. The fact is: Mr. Meuthen has tolerated Mr Gedeon in his group for a long time. According to the newspaper FAZ Lord knew Meuthen already 2013, what are the views of Mr Gedeon represents. Nevertheless, he has not turned against him.
The AfD anti-Semites infiltrated ?
In percentage terms, you can’t quantify that exactly. The party generally occurs as an Anti-System and Anti-Establishment party. Thus, it attracts people who have a similar world view to have and this also is often anti-Semitic world of ideas represented. Therefore, it is not only Individual, but this is already a wider flow.
How to assess if the AfD is trying to win Jews, as is done in actions in Paderborn and other cities?
This is not a proof that the whole of the AfD Jews sees as equal members of society. This is a strategic Consideration. The AfD has a fear of being considered anti-Semitic perceived. The means, than to apply the extreme right.
In France, Mr Le Pen has failed. Such a case, you want to prevent the AfD. At the same time you want to have Jews as allies against Islam and the supposed Muslim anti-Semitism.
This has been seen also in the case of Gedeon, and of the manifests itself on the one hand, clearly anti-Semitic, but then in the state Parliament of Baden-Württemberg, says he isn’t the Problem, the Problem is the anti-Semitic Muslims.
In the rest of the Recruitment were not successful. This is also the Jewish community is very aware that this is only a strategy. Who is happening today against Muslims, tomorrow possibly against the Jews. If the AfD calls for a ban on the headscarf, it asks you implicitly to ban the Jewish Kippa, because to treat all religions are the same. This is a constitutional right in the German basic law.
The AfD Chairman Frauke Petry wanted to visit Israel to hold a talk. To what extent can this be taken as a sign of a approach considered?
The lecture did not come about. The operators in Tel Aviv have download after you have become aware of who should be there. But in Germany, too, their action is pushed to the party’s base on a lot of criticism. She was obliged to say that you are traveling as a party leader but as a private person. It is just in the party no consensus above that it is in Israel as a pro-Israeli force. There are simply too many anti-Israel and anti-Semitic set of people in the AfD.
Jan Riebe is a social scientist and works since 2008 in the Amadeu-Antonio-Stiftung in Berlin. He is a specialist consultant in the area of “group-focused enmity”, and has engaged intensively with the party, the AfD and the anti-Semitic currents.
The interview was conducted by Wolfgang Dick.