Hamburg court refuses to view brutal attack of elderly Jewish man as antisemitic crime
The Hamburg Regional Court has refused to view the brutal attack of a sixty-one-year-old Jewish man as an antisemitic crime.
Andreas Roger underwent three operations and has been left blind in one eye after reportedly being beaten by a group of young men in central Hamburg whilst they shouted, “Free Palestine”, “F*ck Israel” and “F*ck Jews”.
Mr Rogers was travelling to a demonstration with a small group and was standing next to an Israeli flag at the time of the assault.
One of the assailants was convicted and sentenced to a two-year juvenile sentence for aggravated assault in conjunction with insult.
Mr Roger’s expressed his dismay at the decision, saying: “I am not satisfied at all that the court is refusing to classify this as an antisemitic crime. Of course it was. I am at risk of going completely blind. This really affects me emotionally. It leaves me feeling helpless.”
Mr Rogers has also revealed that his injuries have forced him to take an early retirement.
Stefan Hassel, Hamburg’s Commissioner for Jewish Life and Combating Antisemitism, observed that Mr Rogers’ attackers “have not shown any remorse for their actions.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Germany, which have increased considerably.