RAA Berlin (Regional Centre for Education, Integration and Democracy) Fires Project Coordinator over Social Media Activities Critical of Israel.

The deputy project coordinator at RAA Berlin (Regional Centre for Education, Integration and Democracy) for the migrant project “Strong Together – for a Diverse and Democratic Youth” (“gemeinsam starkgemacht – für eine vielfältige und demokratische Jugend”) was fired due to pro-Palestinian and Israel-critical likes on X. Based on information provided by Eren Güvercin (founding member of Alhambra Gesellschaft e.V. and part of the FDP-affiliated association Liberale Vielfalt), WELT journalist Lennart Pfahler denounced him and one of his colleagues in an article on March 10, 2024, and reported the two to both their employer and the Berlin Senate.

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs demanded a statement from the RAA, while Volker Beck, President of the German-Israeli Society, called for the dismissals. RAA Managing Director Katja Kinder told WELT that RAA stands by Israel’s right to exist, but that it does not comment on its employees’ private posts for labor law reasons. Immediately after the journalistic inquiry by the Springer press, RAA asked the project coordinator to deactivate his private X account, which he agreed to do. Nevertheless, the project coordinator was relieved of all his duties on March 18, 2024, and a termination agreement was drawn up with effect from June 30, 2024. His colleague’s contract was not extended prior to the inquiry by the Springer press.

During the two-week process, there were no substantial discussions with the project coordinator and he was not given any precise reasons for the dismissal. Several colleagues also testified that there was no open communication about the case and that there is a lack of transparency in the organization.