By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

BERLIN, Germany —  Germany’s most recent attempt to combat anti-Semitism comes in the form of a program titled “Rent a Jew.”  Through the outreach program, those interested in learning more about the everyday lives of Jewish people are able to book a Jewish person for an informational session.  The program sends Jewish volunteers into German schools to speak about their experiences and to dispel commonly-held myths about the group.  The goal of the program is to draw light to the “ordinariness” of the Jewish community, and away from the view of the Jewish community as victims through the “Holocaust lens.”

Mascha Schmerling, one of the program’s leaders, tells reporters that the group’s aim is to “give people the chance to talk to the Jewish community.”  The group wants others to see that they are “completely normal people.”  Program organizer Alexander Rasumny explains that “[a] lot of people want to be more than just the regular Jewish stereotypes in Germany, reduced to victims. A lot of people want to be seen in their own right.”

As for the odd name of the program, Shmerling recognizes that they made the title “deliberately provocative” so that it would promote conversation.  According to Schmerling, the Jewish community is tired of hearing the anti-Semitic view that Jewish people are less valuable than other people.  The title of the program mixes humor and “chutzpah” as a step towards refuting such stereotypes.

On one recent trip to a German college, Shmerling and fellow speaker Monty Aviel Zeev Ott asked the students about rumors they have heard about Jewish people, and encouraged them to speak to any rumor even if it was unflattering.  On the trip, the Rent a Jew speakers also spoke to their holiday traditions, worship practices, and family recipes.

The Jewish speakers volunteer the time and do not get paid for their services, although the organization’s website suggests that hosts are welcome to pitch in for travel expenses of the volunteers if they are willing.  Students who have participated in the program thus far have described their experiences as “enlightening.”

 

For more information, please see:

NY Daily News — Germany’s Rent a Jew Program Hopes to Combat Anti-Semitism — 17 December 2016

Arutz Sheva — Germany Offers ‘Rent A Jew’ Services — 16 December 2016

Vox — “Rent a Jew” is an Actual Thing in Germany.  And, Amazingly, its a Good Idea. — 15 December 2016

Telegraph — Rent a Jew Service Now Available in Germany — 12 December 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

OSLO, Norway — After receiving an anonymous tip, authorities in a suburb of southwestern Norway found part of a wrought iron gate that was stolen more than two years ago from a former Nazi death camp.  The gate was a part of the Dachau concentration camp, and bears the slogan “Arbeit macht frei” which translates to “Work sets you free.”

 

 

The 220 pound gate was stolen from under guarded watch in November 2014, and is believed by German authorities to have been stolen as part of an organized crime.  The gate was made by prisoners in a workshop at the Dachau camp.  Prisoners entering the camp passed through the gate, as it served as a barrier between their imprisonment and the outside world.

The Dachau concentration camp, located near Munich, was established under Nazi rule in 1933.  Over 200,000 people from across Europe were held at the camp, and over 40,000 died there.

After the camp closed it was turned into a memorial, and the theft of the gate sparked significant international outcry.  The memorial’s director explains this rage, describing the gate as “the central symbol for the prisoners’ ordeal.”  Israel’s Yad Vashem memorial called the theft “an offensive attack on the memory of the Holocaust.”  German chancellor Angela Merkel called the theft of the gate “appalling.”

Recovery of the stolen gate has brought much comfort to those who were upset about its theft.  Jean-Michel Thomas, president of the International Dachau Committee which represents former prisoners from the camp, was “very happy” with the discovery of the gate.  Margrethe Myrmehl Gudbrandsen, a police spokeswoman in Norway, explained that Norway decided to leave the announcement of the recovery to the Germans out of respect for its symbolism.  Gudbrandsen said that the Norwegian authorities “understand this gate is an important monument for Germany.”

While the gate was missing, a replica was installed in its place during events marking the 70^th anniversary of the liberation of the camp.  Another gate with the same inscription on it was stolen in 2009 from Auschwitz, however has since been recovered.

The investigation of how the sign was stolen might be implicated by the lack of “usable evidence” surrounding the discovery.  The sign is now under police care, and they do not yet have any suspects.

 

For more information, please see:

The Huffington Post –Nazi Death Camp Gate Found in Norway 2 Years After Being Stolen From Dachau — 3 December 2016

NBC — Stolen Dachau Concentration Camp Gate Found in Norway — 3 December 2016

CBS — Dachau Gate Appears to be Found in Norway — 2 December 2016

The Guardian — Dachau Concentration Camp Gate Found Two Years After it was Stolen — 2 December 2016

The New York Times — ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ Gate Thought to be Stolen from Dachau is Found — 2 December 2016

 

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

MOSCOW, Russia — Russia’s economy minister, Alexei Ulyukayev, was charged and detained on charges of soliciting a $2 million bribe on Tuesday.  Ulyukayev accepted the bribe money from Rosneft, Russia’s largest oil company, in exchange for his ministry’s approval of a sale between Rosneft and another government-owned oil company.

Authorities told reporters that Ulyukayev’s phones were tapped, and his electronic communications were being monitored.  Investigators set up an operation in which the bribe was handed to Ulyukayev on Monday.  According to authorities, Ulyukayev threatened to use his position as economy minister to create problems for Rosneft unless it handed him the $2 million.  Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee, told reporters that “Ulyukayev was caught red-handed as he received the bribe.”

Vyacheslav Voloshin, former head of Putin’s administration and current speaker of the lower house of the Russian parliament, praised Ulyukayev’s detainment because it “means there are no ‘untouchable people’ in Russia.”

Others view the arrest as a sign of political tension in the Russian government.  Gleb Pavlovsky, former Putin strategist, called the move a “terrible sign of weakness at the top of the executive power” because Putin apparently knew of the investigation for months, yet allowed Ulyukayev to remain in office instead of firing him.

Some find the situation odd for a few reasons.  First, the man Ulyukayev apparently threatened, Sechin, is believed to be one of the most powerful men in Russia and one who has Putin’s ear.  Considering their close relationship, many believe that Sechin could have told Putin about the threat and no investigation would have occurred.  Second, Alexander Shokhin, a man who worked with Ulyukayev on the Russian cabinet, pointed out that it was odd Ulyukayev would have asked for a bribe considering the oil company sold at market price.

Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, assured that Putin was aware of the investigation throughout the process.  Peskov stated that “[t]hese are very serious accusations, and only a court can pass a verdict.”

Ulyukayev has been under investigation by Russia’s Federal Security Service for over a year.  He is the highest-ranking Russian official to be detained while holding office since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.  If guilty, he could face up to 15 years in jail, a maximum financial penalty of 70-100 times the sum of the bribe, and/or he would be stripped of the ability to serve in certain state office positions for 8-15 years.

 

For more information, please see:

The New York Times — Russia’s Economy Minister is Detained on Bribery Charges — 15 November 2016

Reuters — Russian Economy Minister Ulyukayev  Denies Extorting $2 Million Bribe — 15 November 2016

RT —  Russia’s Economy Minister Detained, Investigated Over Alleged $2 million Bribe Linked to Big Oil Deal — 15 November 2016

The Washington Post — Top Putin Aide Caught with $2 Million in Russian Bribery Sting — 15 November 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France — Child refugees, who have been sent away from the migrant camp known as the “Jungle” in Calais, France to other parts of the country, have allegedly been forced into physical labor at their new locations.

Safe Passage, an organization run by the immigration charity Citizens UK, claims that refugee children are being forced to work on local farms without pay.  Legal interviews of unaccompanied refugee children were conducted, in which minors told interviewers that they were ordered to work on farms picking apples for French supermarkets.  The minors were too scared to refuse the work because they feared doing so would harm their chances of claiming asylum in the United Kingdom.

Of 33 teenage boys interviewed, one quarter admitted they have not been given clean clothes since arriving approximately four weeks ago.  39% of the minors who were interviewed said they felt better off at the Calais camp.  On boy interviewed in Northern France told interviewers “[i]t is horrible. We worked all day picking apples and were left to eat the rotten ones. The rest went to be sold in France. We just want to be with our family in the UK.”

Many minors are considering or have already absconded from their base centers, as they are not being given enough information about the status of their asylum claims.  Three of the boys have not spoken to anyone official regarding their asylum claim since their arrival at the center.  Two of the boys interviewed said they were considering running away from the center they were living in, and two who were originally scheduled to be interviewed had already run away.

About one quarter of the boys interviewed said they had not received clean clothes since their arrival, however they all said they had access to shower, hot water, and at least three meals per day.

Rabbi Janet Darley, Citizens UK Leader, said that the group is “hugely concerned about the safeguarding of children in the CAOs in France.”  Darley emphasized that while “the CAOs are, on the whole, safe places for the children to live, they cannot be used as an excuse to delay the transfer of children to the UK.”

In addition to taking part in forced labor, minors have also reported that they are being forced to share living accommodations with adults.

 

For more information, please see:

The Huffington Post — Refugee Children Say They’d be ‘Better Off’ in Squalid Calais Camp than New Centres — 21 November 2016

RT — Refugee Children from Calais Camp Forced to Work on Farms in France – Report — 20 November 2016

The Guardian — Child Refugees Forced to Work for Nothing After Leaving Calais — 19 November 2016

The Independent — Calais Refugee Children Forced to Work on Fruit Farms and Share Accommodation with Adults, Charity Claims — 19 November 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine — Three years ago, on November 21, 2013, the people of Kiev, Ukraine took part in an anti-government protest in the streets of the city.  The events were called “Revolution of Dignity” by the victors of the protest, who successfully took power of the right-winged radicals and promises of integrating Ukraine into the European Union.

The 2013 protests, which resulted in over 100 deaths and an ousted government and president, are also known as “Euromaiden.”  The Euromaiden movement started when protestors gathered in Kiev after then-president Viktor Yanukovych announced he declined to sign a trade deal with the EU and instead sought a closer economic relationship with Russia.  Protestors saw the trade deal as a path towards adopting a European standard of living, as well as possibly visa-free travel in the EU.  After the protests, Yanukovych fled to Russia and was subsequently removed from office.

This year, November 21 was declared a national holiday in Ukraine, and was given the name “Dignity and Freedom Day.”  As a part of the commemorations, government officials, protest participants, clergy, youth organizations, and Ukrainian citizens held ceremonies across the country.  Flowers were placed on a monument honoring those who were killed in the protests, and a “revolution march” was organized to take place in Kiev on the holiday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko spoke at one of the ceremonies, calling on the nation to unite and stand together against the Russian “threat.”  Poroshenko insisted that “[t]he Revolution of Dignity put an end to our Russian-Soviet past and the post-Soviet period.  It has separated our Ukrainian and European world from the Russian world.”  Poroshenko went on to congratulate the Ukrainian citizens, and thanked them for building “our European state together!”  He stressed that since the 2013 protests, the “basis for a new Ukraine was laid.”

The November 21 holiday also recognizes and honors the 2004 Orange Revolution.  The revolution also began in November, and marked the first majority vote for a pro-European Union candidate.

Approximately 21,000 law enforcement officials will be present at the ceremonies and demonstrations across Ukraine to ensure public order.

 

For more information, please see:

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty — Ukraine Marks Third Anniversary Euromaiden — 21 November 2016

RT — Ukraine Marks ‘Dignity & Freedom Day’ as Euromaiden Dream Falters — 21 November 2016

Ukraine Today — Ukraine Marks Day of Dignity and Freedom — 21 November 2016

Ukrinform — President Poroshenko Congratulates Ukrainians on the Day of Dignity and Freedom — 21 November 2016