The scheduled October 7th concert at Berlin’s “House of World Cultures” (HKW) featuring rappers known for controversial anti-Semitic, far-left extremist and pro-Palestinian references, has been canceled. The concert was planned as part of a state-supported exhibition organized by ZDF satirist Jan Böhmermann.
One of the scheduled performers, rapper Chefket, had drawn attention for posting an Instagram photo wearing a T-shirt depicting a map of Israel and the Palestinian territories with Israel erased. He was also photographed wearing a shirt displaying the communist hammer and sickle symbol.
The decision responds to criticism from Jewish communities, reports Tagesspiegel.
The House of World Cultures stated that it could not ensure the integrity of the now-canceled event. The decision was explained by noting that “on the second anniversary of the terrorist attack of October 7th, 2023,” there should be no doubt about the House’s stance against antisemitism.
On that day, Hamas terrorists from Palestine killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and took numerous hostages, marking the deadliest mass murder of Jews since the end of World War II.
Originally, Böhmermann had intended to feature Chefket as part of his cultural program “The Possibility of Unreason”. He was also among the 200 signatories of an open letter to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling for the EU to suspend its association agreement with Israel amid the Gaza conflict.
While the HKW exhibition itself does not receive public funds, it is part of the federal cultural events division, which is currently supported with around €57 million from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM).
