The picture emerging with regard to the event „Israel – Völkermord und Apartheidsystem gegen die Palästinenser*innen“ of 9 July 2025 at Universität des Saarlandes seems to us deeply disconcerting. The circumstances appear so absurd that we are at present still working on fully clarifying the facts. Even now, however, it is completely incomprehensible to us how the Antisemitism Commissioner of Saarland, Prof. Dr. Roland Rixecker, could appear in the role of moderator of an event whose conception and framing do not question antisemitic narratives but rather appear to promote them.
Through his function as moderator – and not merely, for example, as a guest willing to engage in discussion – Prof. Rixecker in effect lent the event a kind of institutional legitimation. This is all the more disturbing given that, by his own account, he takes the view that it is not really known what antisemitism is to be understood to mean at all.
We are currently looking into inconsistencies regarding his communication with the Jewish community in the run-up to the event. The situation has the potential to shake the Jewish community’s trust in his conduct of office to such an extent that remaining in his function as Antisemitism Commissioner could become untenable.
What is additionally irritating is the fact that Prof. Rixecker simultaneously holds the office of President of the Constitutional Court of Saarland – an office that requires the highest degree of integrity and trust.
It would be a fatal signal if an appointed Antisemitism Commissioner not only failed to protect against antisemitism, but through his active conduct additionally encouraged it.
