Humboldt University in Berlin has announced it cannot impose disciplinary measures on activists who occupied and damaged a lecture hall on April 16, due to the absence of an internal statute permitting sanctions within the university.
The protesters are accused of serious offenses including 67 counts of public disorder, assaults on police officers, and the use of banned symbols. The destruction caused is estimated to have cost the university around €100,000. However, the university’s disciplinary regulations will only come into force in May and will not be applied retroactively.
Timur Hussein, a CDU Bundestag member, sharply criticized the university’s slow response.
“Humboldt University has failed to understand that antisemitic actions by students must be punished not only by the state but also by the university administration itself, to show that it takes the fight against antisemitism seriously,” he told BILD.
At the same time, Hussein commended the police for swiftly clearing the building during the incident. City officials have stated that the university is currently enhancing security measures and strengthening coordination with law enforcement to prevent future incidents.
