- Objection to the order of the court for anti-Semitic statements
Following an alleged anti-Semitic incident during the laying of a "Stumbling Stone" memorial for Jews murdered by Nazis in Pforzheim, a court will likely have to address the matter. The defendant has filed an appeal against a criminal order, according to the public prosecutor's office. "Therefore, a main trial is expected," a spokesperson said.
The public prosecutor's office had investigated for incitement of the people. Earlier, the Pforzheim local court had issued a criminal order, which provided for a fine of 120 daily rates. This would have made the accused, a 39-year-old man, a convicted criminal. However, as he filed an appeal, the criminal order is not yet legally binding.
The exact amount of the daily rates was not disclosed by the public prosecutor's office. It usually orientates itself on the personal and economic circumstances of the person concerned.
Stumbling Stones are laid in many cities.
In the incident in mid-May, a man ran up and asked if it was about Jews, Hans Mann from the "Initiative Stumbling Stones Pforzheim" reported at the time. When the people present confirmed this, the man started shouting and called out, among other things, "Shitty Jews" and "People killers" and that all Jews should be shot and killed. "He was really agitated, insulted us all and almost became physically aggressive." According to Mann's report, there were also students and relatives of the murdered people who had traveled especially from Israel for the event.
Stumbling Stones are laid in many places. They are intended to remember Jews who were deported and murdered during the Nazi era. The small memorial plaques are usually set into the ground in front of the buildings where the affected people lived.
The public prosecutor's office is considering charges of incitement due to the man's extremist remarks during the Stumbling Stone ceremony. Regardless of the court's decision, this incident has highlighted the persisting presence and danger of extremist sentiments.
