Accused of Neglecting Responsibilities: University Faces Lawsuit from Jewish Student - College student of Jewish heritage files a lawsuit against the educational institution
A Jewish student, Lahav Shapira, is set to sue the Free University of Berlin (FU) at the Berlin Administrative Court on Tuesday, 10:00 AM. The trial, however, is not related to a separate incident where a fellow student was convicted for assaulting Lahav Shapira.
Lahav Shapira, a member of the Jewish community, claims that pro-Palestinian groups have held anti-Israel and antisemitic events on the FU campus, making him feel unsafe. The lawsuit alleges that the university has not done enough to combat antisemitic discrimination and is violating its obligations under the Berlin Higher Education Act, which requires universities to prevent discrimination.
The specific incident at the heart of the lawsuit occurred at the FU campus in December 2023, where Lahav Shapira was allegedly prevented from accessing a lecture hall during a pro-Palestinian occupation. The individual accused of this action is alleged to have grabbed and pushed Lahav Shapira.
Meanwhile, a 32-year-old individual is standing trial at the Tiergarten Local Court on Thursday, accused of making antisemitic remarks during the incident. The court is considering the incident as an allegation of antisemitic behavior. A verdict is expected on the same day, but not for Lahav Shapira's lawsuit at the Berlin Administrative Court.
The court hearing for the antisemitic incident will take place in the Moabit Criminal Court's better-protected rooms for security reasons. It is important to note that there is currently no publicly reported lawsuit of this kind ongoing at the Free University of Berlin as of July 2025, according to the available data.
In a separate incident, a fellow student was convicted by the Tiergarten Local Court in April for assaulting Lahav Shapira in Berlin-Mitte in February 2024. The university's response to these incidents, and its overall approach to combating antisemitism, remains a topic of ongoing discussion and concern within the Jewish community and beyond.
- The ongoing lawsuit by Jewish student Lahav Shapira against the Free University of Berlin (FU) at the Berlin Administrative Court highlights the crucial role of EC countries' employment policy in promoting inclusivity, especially in education and self-development, and the university's responsibility to combat discrimination in line with general news and politics.
- As the trial related to the incident involving antisemitic remarks continues at the Tiergarten Local Court this week, it underscores the critical need for Berlin's educational institutions to develop robust employment policies addressing discrimination and fostering a safe and diverse learning environment for all students, aligning with broader political discourse and the importance of education and self-development.
