Outrage in Germany as shop sign reads 'Jews are banned' sparks investigation

A shop owner in Flensburg faced swift backlash and a police investigation after displaying a window sign that read 'Jews are banned from here!' that officials described as anti-Semitic and reminiscent of Nazi-era boycotts.

The sign included a smaller disclaimer claiming the owner was not anti-Semitic but 'just can’t stand you.' The owner, identified by local press as 60-year-old Hans Velten Reisch, told German media that he was reacting to developments in the Gaza Strip and that he watches the news every evening. He said he printed the poster after what he described as actions by Israel in Gaza, and he argued that he could not distinguish between Jews who 'are for and against the attacks.'

Reisch acknowledged to Bild that his statements were a mistake and later suggested he should not have blamed all Jews, only those supporting Israel, but he claimed their 'hypocrisy' pushed him to act. He later said he did not intend to target Jews as a group and that his complaint was directed at what he saw as political or government actions rather than at individuals. The dispute prompted residents to leave messages on the shop window, and the sign was removed after police intervened.

Authorities quickly denounced the display. Felix Klein, the Federal Government’s Anti-Semitism Commissioner, told Welt TV that the sign represents anti-Semitism in its purest form and drew direct references to the Nazi era, when Jews were boycotted. Klein stressed that the incident demonstrates how anti-Semitic expressions can surface in everyday settings and reaffirmed that the authorities were taking it seriously as a matter of public safety.

The public prosecutor’s office said it has opened an investigation into Reisch on suspicion of inciting hatred. In a related fallout, Klein said the episode was a reminder that communities must not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism and that authorities would pursue this matter in coordination with law enforcement and civil society groups.

Daniel Günther, the state’s Minister President, condemned the incident as a stark reminder of Germany’s historical scars. He said, 'This is reminiscent of the darkest chapters in our history. The fact that something like this is happening again today should not leave anyone unmoved. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the signals of these horrific and repulsive excesses.' Günther’s comments underscored the state’s commitment to prosecuting hate speech and educating the public about the consequences of such expressions.

On the day the sign became public, Chancellor [Name] warned that criticism of Israel is sometimes exploited as a cover for anti-Semitism. He urged citizens to separate legitimate political discourse from anti-Semitic rhetoric and emphasized that the government would not tolerate racist or violent expressions that target Jews. The chancellor’s remarks reflected a broader concern across European capitals about the coalescence of political discontent and bigotry in the current regional and international climate.

The episode in Flensburg follows a pattern seen in other parts of Europe in which anti-Semitic imagery or language resurfaces in heated debates over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Police said several residents reported the sign, and investigators noted that the window display appeared to draw an explicit link to Nazi-era practices, which is a legally and socially sensitive line in Germany. Experts have long warned that anti-Semitism can take indirect forms, including rhetoric that appears to delegitimize Jewish rights or to portray Jewish people as a monolithic threat. Authorities stressed that the case would be handled with due process and that hate crimes or incitement to hatred would be prosecuted under applicable law.

As the investigation proceeds, community leaders and human-rights advocates stressed the need for resilience against hate speech and for clear-cut condemnation of any attempt to equate political disagreement with ethnic or religious hostility. Public reaction, including conversations in schools, workplaces, and community centers, has centered on supporting Jewish communities and reaffirming Germany’s commitment to remembering the lessons of history while confronting modern manifestations of anti-Semitism.

The incident has sparked renewed debate about how to respond to inflammatory rhetoric in a way that protects democratic values without suppressing legitimate expressions of opinion. For now, German officials say they are pursuing the case with seriousness and speed, while urging the public to remain vigilant against all forms of anti-Semitism and to report intolerant acts when they occur.