Overview
- Literature-house director Oliver Hintz says he rescinded the invitation on the mayor’s instruction after being told a city body opposed hosting Friedman due to potential protests by right-wing groups or Hamas sympathizers.
- Mayor Jürgen Mevius rejects that account and cites higher-than-usual fees as the reason, stating there was no formal council vote but that an informal sounding of city representatives was negative.
- Michel Friedman condemned the move as “peinliche Heuchelei,” arguing authorities must not preemptively yield cultural and speech freedoms to extremist intimidation.
- Federal antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein called the step a direct attack on constitutionally protected free expression and urged Klütz to reverse it.
- A demonstration has been registered for Monday in Klütz, with PEN Berlin calling a rally where Friedman is expected to speak, while the mayor issued a statement calling the signal “missverständlich” and announced a review with the Literaturhaus as the house’s supporters say sponsors would have covered costs.