Germany clears anti-vaxxer who called Israel worse than Nazis

Despite Sucharit Bhakdi commenting on ‘the terrible thing about Jews’ and comparing vaccines to Holocaust, court reportedly unsure if remarks were antisemitic or Israel criticism

By AP 24 May 2023, 4:03 am Edit

A demonstrator wrapped in a flag of the German empire stands opposite riot policemen standing guard in front of the Reichstag building, which houses the Bundestag lower house of parliament, after protesters tried to storm it at the end of a demonstration called by far-right and COVID-19 deniers to protest against restrictions, in Berlin, on August 29, 2020. (John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

BERLIN, Germany — A prominent critic of Germany’s pandemic restrictions who repeatedly spread false information about the coronavirus has been acquitted of incitement to hatred for comments about Jews and Israel.

A regional court in the northern town of Ploen ruled Tuesday that Thai-German microbiologist Sucharit Bhakdi didn’t break the law when he described Israel as worse than Nazi Germany.

In a video published online in 2021, Bhakdi also said that “the terrible thing about Jews is: they learn well” and described the country of Israel as a “living hell.”

The court concluded that it couldn’t be determined without reasonable doubt that Bhakdi had been spreading antisemitic hatred toward Jews rather than criticizing the Israeli government and its policies, German news agency dpa reported.

Prosecutors had argued that such comments could lead to Jews in Germany becoming the targets of hatred.

Judges also said that Bhakdi’s claims about the COVID vaccine being part of a second Holocaust didn’t constitute a downplaying of the Nazi genocide which killed 6 million Jews, public broadcaster NDR reported.

Participants hold a banner reading “freedom day” as they take part in a demonstration against the current measurements to curb the COVID-19 spreading in Berlin, on August 1, 2020. (John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

Bhakdi, who was greeted by dozens of supporters as he arrived at the court, could have faced a fine if convicted.

The ruling can be appealed.