Update (14.01.2025)
University of Jena draws consequences – an important signal against extremism
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena has cancelled the planned lecture by Wieland Hoban, the chairman of the association „Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost“, which has been classified as a confirmed extremist endeavour. A further event, a lecture by Michael Lüders, who spreads problematic narratives about the Middle East conflict, will now take place in a modified format. The Jüdische Allgemeine reported. There had previously been massive criticism of the planned events, including from our side. We expressly welcome the decision of the University of Jena. Its action is an expression of institutional self-correction and democratic vigilance and shows that a clear stance is possible and takes effect.
By disinviting Wieland Hoban, the University of Jena is sending an important signal: extremist ideologies must not be relativised or legitimised through academic platforms. This clarity is of central importance, especially in view of the sharp rise in antisemitism in Germany.
As a Jewish-German association we approached the university management in advance with the following open letter. You will find it below.We sent the following letter today to the President of Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx.Dear President Prof. Dr. Marx,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
as the Jewish-German association WerteInitiative e.V. we are writing to you with great concern in view of the invitation of Michael Lüders (14 January 2026) and Wieland Hoban (28 January 2026) to give lectures as part of the event series „Frieden denken zu Zeiten des Krieges“ at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
Universities bear a particular responsibility for scholarly standards, democratic values and protection against antisemitism. This responsibility applies in particular wherever the university and its members have an effect on the public and on public discourse.
Wieland Hoban and extremist connections
Wieland Hoban is a board member of the association Jüdische Stimme für einen gerechten Frieden in Nahost. The Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz classifies this association as a confirmed extremist endeavour in the area of foreign-related extremism. The Federal Office documents that the association adopts central narratives of the BDS movement, delegitimises the State of Israel and is part of a network in which extremist actors are also active. In the assessment of the Verfassungsschutz, these activities are directed against fundamental principles of the free democratic basic order.[i]
The association Jüdische Stimme normalises antisemitic patterns of argument by invoking a supposedly “Jewish perspective”, relativises the terror of antisemitic organisations and deliberately contributes to the delegitimisation of Israel.[ii]
Inviting a board member of an organisation classified as extremist by the Verfassungsschutz means an institutional upgrading of the corresponding positions. In our view this is not compatible with the mandate of a state university. We therefore expressly call for the lecture by Wieland Hoban to be cancelled.
Michael Lüders and problematic narratives
We also take a critical view of the invitation of Michael Lüders. In numerous publications and media appearances Lüders has for years been spreading one-sided portrayals of the Middle East conflict which systematically present Israel as the main cause of violence and in doing so distort historical and political contexts. Again and again it is striking that he deals selectively with sources, reproduces disinformation and repeatedly uses narratives that fuel antisemitism.[iii] Lüders uses terms and interpretative patterns that contribute to the delegitimisation of the Jewish state and serve antisemitic topoi.[iv][v]
Criticism of Israeli policy is legitimate, but it crosses a line when it turns into systematic delegitimisation, demonisation and double standards. In this respect Michael Lüders walks the borderline, repeatedly evoking antisemitically connoted images in his audience.
The responsibility of the university
As a publicly funded institution, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena stands for enlightenment, scholarly integrity and democratic values. The invitation of speakers whose positions demonstrably normalise extremist or antisemitic narratives is in clear contradiction to this. Academic freedom does not release anyone from the responsibility to name antisemitism and hostility to the constitution clearly and to give them no institutional space.
We therefore urgently appeal to you to withdraw the invitation of Wieland Hoban and to critically review the invitation of Michael Lüders.
Yours sincerely
Elio Adler
-Chairman-
[i] Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz: Verfassungsschutzbericht 2024, chapter „Auslandsbezogener Extremismus“ (https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/SharedDocs/publikationen/DE/verfassungsschutzberichte/2025-06-10-verfassungsschutzbericht-2024.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4)
[ii] International Institute for the Study of Antisemitism and Policy (IIBSA): Die „Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost“, March 2024. (https://iibsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Juedische_Stimme_fur_gerechten_Frieden.pdf)
[iii] Adopt a Revolution: Die Methode Lüders. (https://adoptrevolution.org/die-methode-lueders/)
[iv] Jüdische Allgemeine: Lüders’ Märchen. (https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/politik/lueders%CA%BC-maerchen/)
[v] Mena-Watch: Ein mehr als zweifelhafter Experte: Michael Lüders. (https://www.mena-watch.com/ein-mehr-als-zweifelhafter-experte-michael-lueders/)
