Wittenberger Stadtkirche: Despite the legal argument, abuse plastic

Wittenberger Stadtkirche: Despite the legal argument, abuse plastic

The Federal Constitutional Court will not deal with the controversial abuse on the city church in Wittenberg again. This reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung, which refers to the plaintiff's lawyer. The decision not to accept the constitutional complaint was made without a detailed explanation. The plaintiff has been committed to removing the so -called "Judensau" for years because he feels injured in his personal rights.

This hideous plastic, which dates from the 13th century, shows an hurtful representation of Jews and their faith. The Federal Court of Justice had determined two years ago that the relief disparaged the Jewish community. Despite this statement, the parish council of Wittenberg decided to leave the work of art at the church. Instead of removing it, a bronze plate was installed and an explanatory text was added to convert the so -called "shammal" into a memorial.

decision of the parish council

The attitude of the parish council not to remove the abuse, encountered resistance, in particular from an expert council that came to a different view. The proposal to remove the plastic representation was rejected. Instead, a way was found to defuse the problem by creating context.

The plaintiff, who is now planning to bring his complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, may see this discussion a broader topic of dealing with culture of remembrance and the presentation of history. The work of art is seen as part of the historical story of the city, while the plaintiff indicates that the exploitation of such representations is a painful memory for many Jews.

The case raises questions about how companies should deal with their past, especially when it comes to topics that have caused damage and discrimination. The discussion about the abuse could pave the way for similar debates in other cities and countries that have to deal with painful historical connotations.

meaning and outlook

The decision of the Federal Constitutional Court could be interpreted as a signal that the legal way to remove such works of art is limited. It shows that the institutions of the judiciary in dealing with sensitive topics exercise great caution. At the same time, the question arises which alternatives there are for those affected if the legal path is not successful.

вI with reference to the European Court of Human Rights, the plaintiff could try to draw international attention to the topic. This could in turn encourage other organizations or people to take similar measures to demand justice and visibility for discriminated groups. The coming months will be decisive to see how this debate will develop.

historical contexts and social debates

The discussion about the abuse on the Wittenberg town church is reminiscent of similar cultural and social disputes in the past. Comparability can be seen, for example, in the controversy about the monuments from the time of National Socialism in Germany. Historical monuments that glorify politicians or war heroes were repeatedly questioned. Critics often demand a distance or redesign of such monuments to heal the associated historical wounds and to set an example against racism and anti -Semitism.

However, these debates are characterized by various social and political contexts. While the removal of symbols in a pluralistic society is often seen as an opportunity to deal with history, it can also raise the accusation of falsification of history in other contexts. The Wittenberg sculptures are therefore not only for a specific historical event, but also reflect broader social tensions.

Current statistics on social perception

In order to understand the social perception of anti -Semitism and its representation in art, current surveys and data are valuable. According to a survey by the Federal Office for Statistics from 2021, 38% of those surveyed stated that they had to deal with anti -Semitic statements personally in the past five years. This reflects a widespread concern of the advent of anti -Jewish rhetoric in society.

In addition, the Federal Government's anti -Semitism report from 2022 occupies an increase in anti -Semitic crimes in Germany, which underlines the relevance of the discussion about Wittenberg Platics. The report recorded an increase of 20% in the period from 2021 to 2022, with public and private derailments increasing. Such statistics illustrate the continued need for action and the need for education and sensitization among the population.