Germany’s new citizenship law has imposed stricter requirements for naturalisation process in a bid to tackle rising antisemitism and racism in the country. Under the revised law, people who post slogans like “From the River to the Sea” on social media may be denied German citizenship.
The updated legislation allows foreigners employed in Germany to apply for citizenship after five years, down from eight years. While this change aims to expedite the naturalisation process, it emphasises a commitment to democratic values and historical responsibility towards Jewish life.
‘German Values and Passport’
A specific clause in the law states that anyone who violates this commitment –such as denying the Holocaust or promoting violence against Israel — will be ineligible for citizenship, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing German media.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said, “If you don’t share our values, you can’t get a German passport.” As per reports, German law incorporates questions about antisemitism and Jewish life into the citizenship test to ensure applicants understand and respect these values.
The law also prohibits any actions or statements that undermine the protection of Jewish life in Germany. This includes not only explicit calls for violence but also social media interactions endorsing such sentiments. If a statement coincides with a call for violence against Israel, it will be scrutinised during citizenship interviews.
Racism
While German states have some autonomy over naturalisation processes, recent practices indicate that they generally follow guidelines set by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The ministry has made it clear that antisemitic or racist behaviour is incompatible with the principles of a democratic society.
The changes come amid rising antisemitic incidents in Germany, which have surged in recent years. Antisemitic incidents in Germany rose around 83% last year, watchdog RIAS said in June. This surge came after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Around half the 4,782 recorded antisemitic incidents were linked with anti-Israel activism, with many involving a relativisation or denial of the Nazi Holocaust in which 6 million Jews were killed, RIAS said. While antisemitism has been on the rise worldwide, it is a particularly sensitive subject in Germany, where Jewish institutions are under heavy police protection.
(With agency inputs)
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