Jewish government worker in Berlin was subjected to antisemitic harassment

Man was reportedly insulted, with colleagues calling him a “Jewish pig” and derogatory phrases about migrants from Muslim countries

A Jewish man working as a driver for the German Chancellery in Berlin has reported being subjected to antisemitic harassment.

An unnamed source told the daily Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the man, who comes from Lebanon and worked in the Chancellery’s motor pool, reported that several colleagues have insulted and bullied him since early 2019, calling him “Jewish pig” and “Kanake,” a word referring to migrants from primarily Muslim countries or southern Europe.

The employee, who was not a driver for Chancellor Angela Merkel, reported the incidents to the federal government’s antisemitism commissioner in the Ministry of the Interior, Felix Klein, the Bild reported.

While confirming basic details, a government spokesperson told Bild that no further comment could be provided in the confidential matter. The employee reportedly now works in a new location, away from his former colleagues. There was no information available on the identity of the colleagues.

According to the Berlin-based Research and Information Center on Antisemitism In Berlin, on average two antisemitic incidents were reported per day in the first half of 2019, a total of 404 incidents in the first six months. In the same period in 2018, there were 579 reported incidents.