Freedom of SpeechGermany
Mayor uninvites German-Jewish author from event

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Laura Bechert
October 2, 2025Advertisement
A controversy in Klütz, northeastern Germany, has sparked national debate over political interference in cultural events. Jewish author Michel Friedman was disinvited from a literary event honoring Hannah Arendt, allegedly due to pressure from the town's mayor, who since stepped down. Friedman nevertheless traveled to Klütz to talk to local residents about what had happened and what it means when politics interferes with artistic freedom.