Leave Germany if you harbour antisemitism, Chancellor Merz tells Muslim immigrants

Muslim immigrants in Germany must also accept the historic responsibility for the Holocaust, the genocide of Jews, that took place in the country. Those who do not accept this responsibility will have to leave Germany, said the country’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Merz made the remarks at a reception for Jewish athletes in the German capital Berlin last Friday. The local newspaper Berliner Zeitung reported the story, citing the German Press Agency (DPA).

The event was held at the Chancellor’s office in Berlin to honour the medal winners of the 2026 ‘Maccabiah’ sporting competition. This international sporting competition of Jews is held in Israel every four years. It is also known as the ‘Jewish Olympics’.

At the event, a basketball coach told Merz that the Jewish athletes in his team are afraid to go out on German streets wearing red Maccabi training jackets bearing the Star of David, because they fear they could be attacked for it.

In response, Merz referred to a historic speech given in the country’s parliament in 1985 by former German President Richard von Weizsäcker. In that speech, delivered on the 40th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Weizsäcker had reminded the nation of the crimes of the Nazi forces and of the responsibility for the planned killing of millions of Jews.

In the speech given on May 8, 1985, Weizsäcker had said, ‘Young people are not responsible for what happened in the past; but they are responsible for what follows from it in history.’

Merz said Weizsäcker’s words are as firm to him as truth carved in stone. This responsibility applies to the whole of German society, he said.

Referring to the current situation, he added, ‘For those who come to Germany from Islamic countries, this historic responsibility of our country applies in exactly the same way. And if anyone does not abide by this responsibility, then he will have to leave our country.’

Merz made the remarks in the context of allegations of antisemitic acts by a section of Muslim immigrants.