A Protestant church in Hesse, Germany, is under investigation after vendors were seen selling symbols associated with the terrorist organization Hamas at the church’s Christmas market. Prosecutors are examining whether the Michaelskirche parish engaged in incitement to hatred and the use of banned terrorist symbols during the event.

The public prosecutor’s office opened the investigation after complaints were filed regarding the Christmas market organized last Sunday by the Michaelskirche parish in Darmstadt. The telegraph reported.

The market featured stalls selling key chains emblazoned with Hamas’ red triangle emblem, a symbol banned in Germany since July due to its association with the terrorist group.

Receive our latest news for FREE

Subscribe to receive daily/weekly emails with the best stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Sellers also offered maps of Palestine with Israel erased, festive cookies inscribed on icing with the words “Palestinian lives matter” and stickers bearing the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” according to The European Conservative.

The event, billed as an “anti-colonial, pro-peace Christmas market,” included traditional offerings such as mulled wine and Christmas carols alongside pro-Hamas merchandise. The parish’s website described the market as a “journey toward diversity and solidarity with all oppressed peoples” and said profits would go to supporting Palestinians.

Robert Hartmann, lead prosecutor, told local media that authorities were “investigating whether criminal offenses may have been committed.” So far, no suspects have been identified. The Michaelskirche parish and the Darmstadt4Palestine group, which co-organized the event, are the subject of the investigation.

Daniel Neumann, president of the Darmstadt Jewish community, condemned the event. “It is a scandal that a Protestant church community would naively allow itself to be involved in this or do it in a malicious way,” Neumann was quoted as saying.

Darmstadt Mayor Hanno Benz said: “Anti-Semitism has no place in our society. Organizing such an event under the aegis of a Protestant community is intolerable.” He added: “Attempts are being made to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist and to demonize the State of Israel. »

Volker Beck, president of the German-Israeli Society, filed a complaint with the authorities. “Anti-Judaism remains a problem in churches. It mostly appears at Christmas,” Beck was quoted as saying.

Regional evangelical authorities expressed dismay, calling the symbols “deeply disturbing.”

Pastor Manfred Werner, head of the parish, also issued a statement declaring “zero tolerance for racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.” He apologized to the Jewish community, his own congregation, the Society for Jewish-Christian Cooperation, Church governing bodies and everyone involved in the Dialogue Forum.

He added: “On the occasion of the Christmas market on the third Sunday of Advent, a pro-Palestinian solidarity group displayed symbols that exceeded the limits of tolerance. The display of these symbols was not discussed with me and, as it was inhumane, I would never have allowed it. »

Werner, whose full statement can be read below, accused a journalist of turning the incident into a global news story by photographing the trinkets being sold instead of alerting him or other organizers to the offensive items on display .

“A journalist photographed and published these symbols. If he had reported them to me or to the organizers of the Christmas market, they would have been immediately removed from the Christmas market. I reject the actions of the journalist who scandalized these symbols, I “I would have liked to talk to him,” he said.

Hesse’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Uwe Becker of the Christian Democratic Union, called the event “incredible, completely unacceptable and absolutely scandalous” because it constitutes a platform for Hamas propaganda and relativization of the Holocaust in Darmstadt.

The Evangelical Church of Hesse and Nassau, to which the Michaelskirche parish is affiliated, also described the Christmas market as “scandalous”.

“The desire to defend people in need – including in Gaza – is fundamentally legitimate. However, the generally anti-Israeli and delegitimizing choice of words as well as the sale of objects bearing symbols linked to the terrorist organization Hamas and the questioning of Israel’s right to exist seem unacceptable to us.

Pastor Manfred Werner is full statement published Wednesday can be read below:

There is no place for anti-Semitism in the space of dialogue

There is a tradition of open dialogue within the Michaelsgemeinde. The ability for controversial groups to speak among themselves rather than about each other is of great value to us.

However, we have zero tolerance for racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Respect and defense of human rights are a central concern for us.

On the occasion of the Christmas market on the third Sunday of Advent, a pro-Palestinian solidarity group displayed symbols going beyond the limits of tolerance. The display of these symbols was not discussed with me and, as it was inhumane, I would never have allowed it. I was assured that the various human rights groups wanted to draw attention in various ways to the culture and suffering of the people of Israel and Palestine and that they were seeking dialogue with visitors.

I deeply regret that this incident occurred and I understand the justified indignation caused by this form of contempt for humanity.

In the future, we will take a close look at which symbols of the dialogue partners of the dialogue forum enjoy guest status on our premises.

A journalist photographed and published these symbols. If he had reported these symbols to me or to the Christmas market organizers, they would have been immediately removed from the Christmas market. I reject the actions of the journalist who caused a scandal with these symbols. I would have liked to have a dialogue with him.

I apologize to the Jewish community, to my community, to the Society of Jewish-Christian Cooperation, to the governing bodies of the Church and to all those involved in the work of the Dialogue Forum and to all people who are rightly outraged by this contempt for humanity.

I also offer the Jewish community all forms of cooperation and, of course, the opportunity to speak about the current incident.

Spaces for dialogue must remain, particularly for the concerns of the Jewish community of Darmstadt and Israeli citizens, some of whom are already our guests.

For me, Israel’s right to exist is not in question.

Anti-Semitism is not an opinion, but a contemptuous attitude in word or deed, which must always be rejected and has no place in the Michaelsgemeinde.

I also join my church leaders in paying attention to the suffering of every person.