1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Freedom of SpeechGermany

Mayor uninvites German-Jewish author from event

03:00

This browser does not support the video element.

Laura Bechert
October 2, 2025

A small village in Germany is at the center of a dispute involving German-Jewish author Michel Friedman. The journalist, who used to work for DW, was invited to appear at a literary event. But the mayor canceled his appearance citing fear of right-wing protests. The decision has sparked a debate over free speech.

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.

Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW