The Berlin HU building's damage remains noticeable.
After the takeover of the Berlin's Humboldt University's Institute for Social Sciences by activists, the building is still showing signs of the incident - the walls are covered with graffiti, furniture is overturned, and shelves are on the floor. The university president commented on the situation, condemning the vandalism that took place. She stated that the perpetrators should be held accountable for their actions.
A week after the occupation, photographers were allowed to enter the building for the first time to document the state of the property. In the corridors, walls have slogans like "Free Gaza" and "Germany, didn't you learn anything from your history?". Red fingerprints can be seen on the walls, and the inverted triangles, commonly used by Hamas supporters, are present in several places. The university is furious about this graffiti, describing it as "shocking anti-Semitism" and "the trivialization of violence." In response, the university president, Julia von Blumenthal, said that she's going to take legal action for both the damage made to the property and the use of symbols of a banned organization.
Aside from the legal action, the university also plans to file a criminal complaint against those who refused to leave the institute voluntarily for trespassing. The statement released by the university was very clear in their opposition to "violent vandalism" and the usage of anti-Semitic symbols. They made it clear that they'll fight against discrimination and violence in any form, and that the rooms of the institute will remain a place for democratic, pluralistic exchange.
Protestors, supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel, carried out the occupation last Wednesday. The university officials initially chose to focus on dialogue instead of force, but when the police were called in, the building was cleared. von Blumenthal hopes to reopen the institute and resume teaching as soon as possible, with cleanup work already underway. The classes are being held online or at other university locations for the time being.
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- The occupation of the Humboldt University's Institute for Social Sciences was led by protestors who criticized Israel's actions, citing slogans like "Free Gaza" on the walls.
- In response to the graffiti containing anti-Semitic symbols and messages, the university president, Julia von Blumenthal, condemned the vandalism and announced legal action against those responsible.
- The Middle East conflict, along with demonstrations against Israel, have sparked similar incidents in Berlin and elsewhere, leading to increased concerns about anti-Semitism in the city.
- In light of the Hamas supporters' use of the inverted triangles in the university's graffiti, there are calls for the German government to reevaluate its relations with organizations that promote such symbols, given the ongoing Israel war and its impact on regional tensions.
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