Overview

• Jürgen Mevius confirmed to dpa that he resigned on Friday and, according to local reports, will remain in office until the end of October.
• The Uwe Johnson Literaturhaus had canceled Friedman’s reading planned for October 2026 during a Hannah Arendt week.
• Literaturhaus director Oliver Hintz says the decision followed a call from Mevius after a city committee majority opposed the event over potential protests by right‑wing agitators or Hamas sympathizers.
• Mevius disputes that account and cites financial reasons, saying Friedman’s honorarium would exceed the 1,000‑euro spending threshold, while supporters contend external funders would have covered costs.
• The cancellation drew nationwide criticism, including from Federal Antisemitism Commissioner Felix Klein, and Friedman called the mayor’s conduct “peinliche Heuchelei” in an NDR interview.