Lawsuit against university - Trial to be continued - Duke University faces lawsuit over alleged failure to prevent antisemitic attack on student
A Jewish student at Duke University has taken legal action against the institution. Lahav Shapira claims the university failed to protect him from an antisemitic attack in February 2024. The case now centers on whether Duke University breached its duty to prevent discrimination.
The incident took place in Berlin-Mitte, where Shapira was assaulted and injured by Mustafa A., a fellow student. Shapira believes the attack was motivated by antisemitism. In April 2025, the Berliner Amtsgericht Tiergarten sentenced Mustafa A. to three years in prison for the assault, though the verdict remains subject to appeal.
Shapira’s lawsuit argues that Duke University violated Berlin’s Higher Education Act by not providing adequate safeguards against discrimination. The university has denied these claims, pointing to its existing anti-discrimination policy and a dedicated office handling such issues.
The court will reconvene on February 26 to assess whether the university took sufficient protective measures. This hearing will determine if Duke University met its legal obligations in preventing antisemitic incidents on campus.
The outcome of the case could clarify the responsibilities of universities in combating antisemitism. If the court rules in Shapira’s favor, Duke University may be required to strengthen its protective policies. The attacker’s prison sentence, meanwhile, remains provisional pending further legal review.
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