Overview

• HKW and curator Jan Böhmermann canceled the Oct. 7 event, citing objections "in particular also from Jewish quarters" and saying they could not guarantee the event's integrity that day.
• Images highlighted by Nius showed Chefket wearing a "Palestine" shirt with a map omitting Israel, which the federal government considers antisemitic, and the minister called a concert on that anniversary a provocation.
• After the exclusion, all remaining artists withdrew in solidarity, leaving the series without concerts, with cancellations announced by acts including Blumengarten, Domiziana, Wa22ermann, Mine and Akryl.
• PEN Berlin criticized the decision as a missed opportunity for open dialogue with the artist and questioned political pressure on a state‑funded cultural institution.
• HKW and Böhmermann emphasized their documented stance against antisemitism, and a public discussion with the culture minister is scheduled for Oct. 8.