The last sentence of the statement was redacted by our asking because the specific phrasing has recently become relevant under criminal law aspects in German jurisdiction as being potentially antisemitic – following the logic that it ultimately calls for an annihilation of Israel, and furthermore, all Jews living on the territory. Following another logic, the sentence can also be read as an expression of and call for Palestinian’s equal rights, self-determination and freedom.

When receiving the statement with the request to publish it, we were hesitant because we ourselves felt and continue to feel the repressionist climate in the cultural scene in Germany concerning declarations of solidarity with the Palestinian People – exactly that climate that Qigemu and Strike Germany are calling out. For us it seemed and still is unforeseeable if and which legal consequences we as a festival could be facing by publishing their original statement. As a result, we asked Qigemu if they could imagine finding another expression of solidarity with the Palestinian People, hoping for words that would have felt ‘safer’ to post these days in Germany. With that request we passed the pressure that we felt onto Qigemu and thereby potentially asked them to self-censor. For that we apologize.
We’re posting all of this because it’s important to us to be transparent about the process that took place and our complicity in a repressionist system.
We’re also posting this because we do believe in freedom of speech, in art’s autonomy from state policy, in critical discourse. We see and condemn the frightening rise of Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism that is going hand in hand with silencing pro-palestinian voices. We also see and condemn the rise of antisemitism as discrimination, prejudice, hostility and violence against Jews as Jews.

As the world bears witness to the ongoing atrocities, human rights violations and trauma in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, we call for an immediate end to Israel’s brutal offensive in Rafah, a permanent ceasefire that includes the release of all hostages, as well as a return to the upholding of international law.

The screening fee will be donated following Qigemu’s request.