Berlin Culture Senator resigns over anti-antisemitism grant scandal

Berlin’s Culture Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson has resigned amid a scandal over the allocation of public funds intended to combat antisemitism, The Guardian reports.

The case involves approximately €2.6 million: an audit found that funding for 13 projects was distributed irregularly, with decisions made “arbitrarily” and in a manner deemed “clearly unlawfully,” despite warnings from ministry staff about insufficient vetting of recipients.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner accepted the resignation, citing the political responsibility taken by the official. Earlier in the same case, State Secretary Oliver Friederici was dismissed, whom the opposition described as a “scapegoat.”

One of the recipients of the funds was the Zera Institute, which received around €390,000. Additional controversy was sparked by previous social media posts by its leader, Maral Salmassi.

The investigation concerns the funding allocation procedure rather than the activities of the organisations themselves. Authorities are considering the possibility of reclaiming the funds already disbursed.

Wedl-Wilson announced her resignation in order “to prevent harm to the vital fight against rising antisemitism in Berlin.” However, the opposition argues that the scandal has undermined trust in political and state institutions.