Case filed against St. Michael's Church in Hesse, Germany

German prosecutors have opened a legal case against the St. Michael's Church in the German state of Hesse on charges of selling Hamas symbols at a Christmas market.

German prosecutors have opened a case against a Protestant church in the German state of Hesse. The church, which was accused of selling symbols associated with the terrorist organization Hamas at a Christmas market, has been placed under judicial investigation. The prosecutors are also investigating the church's role in selling symbols and goods associated with the terrorist organization Hamas, inciting hatred and using these prohibited symbols.

The Christmas market at St. Michael's Church in Darmstadt on Sunday sold key chains with the red Hamas triangle symbol, a symbol that was banned in Germany in July. The issue has drawn numerous complaints.

According to the European Conservatives, in addition to key chains with the Hamas symbol, they also offered maps of Palestine without mentioning Israel, sweets decorated with the words “Palestinian lives matter” and stickers with the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” The market was advertised as an “anti-colonial and pro-peace Christmas market,” and along with these symbols, traditional products such as mulled wine and Christmas carols were also sold.

The Michael Church website also described the market as “a journey of diversity and solidarity with all oppressed peoples” and announced that its proceeds would go to the Palestinians. Hartmann, the chief prosecutor, also announced that authorities were investigating the possibility of criminal offenses and that Michael Church and the Darmstadt Group for Palestine, which collaborated on the event, were also under investigation.

The head of the Darmstadt Jewish community, Daniel Neumann, also condemned the event, saying: "It is a shame that a Protestant church community, whether out of naivety or malice, would involve itself in such an issue." In addition to him, Darmstadt Mayor Hanno Benz also stated regarding the event: "Anti-Semitism has no place in our society. It is unacceptable for such an event to be held under the auspices of a Protestant community. Efforts are underway to discredit Israel's right to exist and demonize this country."

Evangelical leaders in the region also expressed their deep concern over the incident. Pastor Manfred Werner, the church’s leader, said in a statement: “We will have zero tolerance for racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. In connection with the Christmas market on Sunday, a pro-Palestinian solidarity group displayed symbols that exceeded the limits of tolerance. These symbols were not coordinated with me and, as they were inhuman, I would never have allowed them.” Werner apologized to the Jewish community, church members, the Association for Christian-Jewish Cooperation, church governing bodies and everyone involved in the dialogue project.

Uwe Becker, a member of the Christian Democratic Party and Hesse's anti-Semitism commissioner, also described the event as "unbelievable, completely unacceptable and scandalous," saying: "In Darmstadt, the ground has been prepared for Hamas propaganda and the relativization of the Holocaust."

The Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau, to which Michael's Church is affiliated, also described the Christmas market as scandalous, stating: "The desire to support people in need, including in Gaza, is a legitimate action. However, the use of general anti-Israel and discrediting language, the sale of objects with symbols associated with the terrorist organization Hamas and the questioning of Israel's right to exist are unacceptable to us."