Solidarity with Pastor Sedlak: Spirituals defend themselves against hate in Langenau

Solidarity with Pastor Sedlak: Spirituals defend themselves against hate in Langenau

In the small town of Langenau in the Alb-Donau district, the situation around the Protestant pastor Ralf Sedlak is increasingly tense. For over a year, Sedlak has been exposed to a wave of hostility that has its origin in its position on the Hamas violent clocks against Israel. After his sermon, in which he wanted to commemorate the victim of the attack on October 7, 2023, he was targeted by an aggressive interferer who interrupted his Bible words by calling for "fake news". Thereupon began a persistent harassment that not only affects him, but also his parish, as SWR.

anti -Semitic attacks and solidarity

The situation continued to escalate when anti -Semitic graffiti how "Jews are gasping" appeared at the Martinskirche and public buildings in Langenau. Over a hundred clergymen have now explained to Sedlak in solidarity, and state bishop Ernst-Wilhelm Gohl showed himself shocked by the developments that were described as incompating. These incidents are part of a more comprehensive trend that reflects an increase in anti -Semitic crimes in Germany, which alerts the parish and the political decision -makers. In the meantime, measures by the security authorities have increased to protect Sedlak and his community, such as on the website of [Schwäbische.de] (https://www.schwaebische.de/regional/ulm-alb-donau/ulm/hundert-geistliche-staerken-den--ruecken-parrer--sfaschist--hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas-hamas- can be read.

Despite the police protection, Sedlak and his community are affected by psychological pressure. The pastor describes the constant nuisance by the interferer, who appears with anti -Semitic posters and aggressive rallies in front of the church. These defamations mean that many parishioners are unsettled and fear visiting the services. Sedlak emphasizes that he has not exposed himself politically and hopes for an early end of these hostility. He himself has already filed a complaint against unknowns for the smearings.