- The Legal Authority: Decision to Drop Legal Action against Ofarim
The case against musician Gil Ofarim (42) regarding a falsified anti-Semitic incident involving a Star of David at a Leipzig hotel has been definitively dropped after the completion of a financial fine. This decision was announced by the 6th Criminal Chamber of the Leipzig Regional Court, as confirmed by a court representative. As per the decision, the government will cover the court fees. The court representative added, "Ofarim is responsible for his own legal fees and those of the co-plaintiff."
In a video posted in October 2021, Ofarim accused the hotel of discrimination, alleging that the manager had demanded for him to remove his Star of David pendant during check-in. The video gained widespread attention on social media. Subsequently, Ofarim filed a complaint, but the hotel manager also filed a counterclaim for libel. During the trial, Ofarim eventually admitted fault and apologized.
Initially, the court provisionally halted the case against Ofarim for libel and false accusations in late November 2021 at the Leipzig Regional Court. However, Ofarim was mandated to pay a fine of 10,000 euros, which was to be shared equally between the Jewish Community of Leipzig and the House of the Wannsee Conference memorial and education center in Berlin. Ofarim finally settled the payment after an extension of the deadline.
The incident involving Gil Ofarim and the Star of David occurred at a Leipzig hotel in Germany. Despite the initial suspension of the libel and false accusations case against Ofarim, he was required to pay a combined fine of 10,000 euros to the Jewish Community of Leipzig and the House of the Wannsee Conference memorial in Berlin.
