Göttingen sued for canceling economist's talk on Israel amid free speech debate
A lawsuit has been filed against the city of Göttingen after it cancelled a talk by economist Shir Hever. The event, titled Israel at an End? After Two Years of War in Gaza, the Country Is Economically, Demographically, and Morally Isolated, was due to take place at the Holbornsche Haus. The cancellation came just days before the scheduled discussion.
The Göttingen Alliance for a Just Peace in the Middle East is now seeking compensation for damages, arguing that the city's decision silenced a Jewish critic of Israeli policy.
The city abruptly terminated the venue rental agreement, citing Hever's affiliation with Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East. Mayor Petra Broistedt explained that the group is classified as 'confirmed extremist' by Germany's domestic intelligence agency. This designation led to the cancellation.
The alliance has countered that the move reflects a pattern of suppressing Jewish voices critical of Israel. They pointed to the 2019 Göttingen Peace Prize controversy, when the city and university withdrew support for the award ceremony following objections from the Central Council of Jews in Germany. According to the alliance, only Jewish speakers who avoid criticising the Israeli government are now permitted to speak in Göttingen. In response, the alliance is demanding €412.93 in damages, covering Hever's travel costs and speaking fee. Interest on the sum is also being sought. The lawsuit argues that the cancellation violated agreements and unfairly restricted free expression.
The case centres on whether the city's decision to cancel the event was justified under constitutional protection rules. The alliance maintains that the move sets a troubling precedent for freedom of speech in municipal spaces. A court ruling will determine whether compensation must be paid and whether similar cancellations could occur in future.
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