German Jewish Student Union blocks AfD politician from entering Halle memorial event

At the commemoration in Halle, the JSUD denied entry to the AfD deputy parliamentary president. They will not be instrumentalized, says Ron Dekel.

9 October 2026, 9:02 PM

Representatives of the Jewish Students' Union of Germany stand in front of the entrance to the synagogue in Halle/Saale. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

By Dinah Riese

taz: Mr. Dekel, today you and the Jewish Students' Union (JSUD) formed a human chain in front of the synagogue in Halle and blocked the entrance. On the anniversary of the right-wing terrorist attack seven years ago. Why?

Ron Dekel: Because we will not let our commemoration be hijacked. Not by any extremists, and certainly not by right-wing extremists, who currently pose the greatest danger to Jews in this country. That is why we made it clear to the newly elected Vice President of the State Parliament, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider of the AfD: He is not welcome here.

taz: With Tillschneider and Tobias Rausch, two AfD politicians were elected as parliamentary president and vice president in a federal state for the first time this week. Must one not expect political representatives to appear at commemorative events?

Photo: Elias Keilhauer

Ron Dekel studies political science and sociology at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Since 2025, he has been president of the Jewish Students' Union (JSUD).

Dekel: Of course it was to be expected that they would instrumentalize this commemoration and seek a "kosher stamp." But we are not prepared to give them one. And that is why young Jews made clear here today that we will not again let right-wing extremists into our synagogues.

taz: How did Tillschneider react?

Dekel: He cast himself in the role of victim. Yet it was he who disrespected the true victims — the survivors and bereaved families of this attack. They should actually have been the first to enter the synagogue; it was clear that politicians, media, and guests would wait. But Hans-Thomas Tillschneider apparently believed that did not apply to him. We repeatedly pointed out to him that he was disrupting the commemoration and the proceedings, that the survivors had to stand outside because of him. That one does not treat these people this way. He evidently did not care.

taz: Why did you not want to let the parliamentary vice president in?

Dekel: No one has the right to instrumentalize us and our commemoration. Certainly not a representative of a party that has downplayed the Halle attack as an "amok run." These are precisely the people who have been spreading right-wing extremist narratives for years and who paved the ground for an attack like the one in Halle in the first place. Hans-Thomas Tillschneider knew he was unwanted. But he still wanted to take this space — and thereby took it from us.

taz: What do you mean by that?

Dekel: I wish we did not have to conduct this interview. I wish we had not had to stand there in front of that synagogue. I wish that we, too, from the JSUD, could have been inside the courtyard as part of the ceremony.

taz: What does the election of an AfD member as parliamentary president mean?

Dekel: It means that a right-wing extremist party in Germany once again holds the highest political office of a federal state. I must say honestly: This triggers another wave of insecurity for Jews in this country. And there have been many in recent years. The right-wing terrorist attack in Halle, October 7 and the subsequent rise in antisemitism in this country, arson attacks on synagogues, international calls for violence by Hamas, and repeated attacks on holidays worldwide. And I perceive a growing indifference toward antisemitism.

taz: Is that also reflected in the commemorative events?

Dekel: 2019 is not long ago. But antisemitic attacks are fading from memory. You can see it in how much less the media reports, how many fewer people come to commemorate. The majority society must understand: It begins with antisemitism — but in the end, you wake up with a right-wing extremist government. And that could happen in this federal state. We must resist this. That is why we protect our synagogues. We will not let our holidays or our days of remembrance be taken from us. We will not let this country be taken from us. Not again.

Related articles:

• Commemoration in Halle: Tillschneider Must Stay Outside — At the commemoration of the attack in Halle seven years ago, the elected AfD parliamentary vice president also wanted to attend. The organizers resisted. By Michael Bartsch
• Commemoration of the Halle Attack: Where Solidarity Fades — At the commemoration in Halle, survivors of the attack address their fears. It concerns the election in Saxony-Anhalt, October 7, and a lack of cohesion. By David Muschenich
• Seven Years After the Attack: Commemoration in Halle Is Changing — On Friday, October 9, the attack on the synagogue marks its seventh anniversary. There is a poster campaign, speeches, and a moment of silence. By David Muschenich