Anti-Zionism Equals Anti-Semitism, German Judge Says

A judge in Essen, German has rejected the defense of an anti-Israel demonstrator who denied he was anti-Semitic, ruling that in Europe today there is no difference, The Times of Israel reported on Monday.

German Judge Gauri Sastry found 24-year-old Taylan Can guilty of incitement against an ethnic minority for things he said against Israel at a protest on July 18, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge.

Can was prosecuted for his use of the term “Zionist” as evidence of his anti-Semitism.

In court, Can denied he was anti-Semitic, claiming that his anger was directed at the state of Israel, not the Jewish people.

Judge Sastry would not accept the argument. He was quoted by Die Welt saying, “‘Zionist’ is the language of anti-Semites, the code for ‘Jew.’”

Born in Germany to a Turkish family, Can is a notorious anti-Israel activist. He was caught on tape at a Copenhagen protest shouting into a megaphone, “Death to the Jews,” “Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas chamber.”

Can was sentenced to three months’ probation and a fine of 200 euros. He has until Friday to appeal.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the February 3rd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.