Freie Universität Berlin Rejects Holocaust Exhibition Over Debate Concerns

The university cited fears of intense emotional reactions and inappropriate debates as reasons for declining the display in its public foyer.

The exhibition, titled 'The Vicious Circle,' was created by the UK's National Holocaust Centre and examines five pogroms against Jewish communities over the past century, including the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
University officials stated that the public foyer was not a suitable venue due to the potential for emotional responses and intense debates they deemed possibly inappropriate.
The university expressed willingness to host related academic discussions and events on campus but suggested the exhibition itself would be better suited for a museum setting.
The decision has drawn criticism and confusion from the exhibition's organizers, who had already planned accompanying programs with the university's history institute.
The rejection comes as the university faces scrutiny for recent pro-Palestinian protests and incidents of antisemitism on campus, including violent threats and attacks against Jewish students.