Convened by Forensis, Spore Initiative, and the poet Ghayath Almadhoun, Cancelled Culture gathered voices from across the art world last weekend to address silencing and censorship in Germany. Over two days, participants, including Diaspora Alliance, Palestine Speaks, ELSC, and NotInOurNameTU, engaged with the necessity of fostering spaces for critique free of erasure and criminalization.
This gathering unfolded shortly after the contentious Art and Activism in Times of Polarization symposium at the Neue Nationalgalerie, curated by Meron Mendel and Saba-Nur Cheema. Criticized for perpetuating structural biases under the guise of "nuanced debates", the event was accused of prioritizing institutional reputations over genuine solidarity with marginalized communities. Activists highlighted how such fora reinforce white supremacy, patriarchal dominance, and Zionist narratives while suppressing dissent.
In contrast, Cancelled Culture sought to create a space for reflection and dialogue, rejecting the instrumentalization of critique. While distrust of institutional platforms is well-founded, this initiative asked how to reclaim discussions from the grip of power dynamics, nurturing spaces for marginalized voices to speak without fear of retaliation. Ironically, its critiques mirrored those leveled against the Neue Nationalgalerie symposium: all panelists shared a singular perspective, placing sole blame for Middle Eastern conflicts on Israel. The panelists are also not necessarily the “Cancelled”, but media figures widely advocating for different platforms: Deborah Feldman called herself “too big to be cancelled”, to which Yazan Khalili responded with a request for de-centering herself, Nicolas Jaar read out of the fresh-from-the-press book Hierarchies of Solidarity by the popular duo Moshtarii Hilal and Sinthujan Varatharajah.
From fragmented trust, we must reimagine solidarity in the cultural sphere. The event, characterized by a calm and inviting atmosphere, celebrated perspectives otherwise neglected in German public discourse. Yet, it is lamentable that such gatherings can only occur in private spaces. The introductory and closing remarks by Yossi Bartal, Emily Dische-Becker, and Ghayath Almadhoun underscored the importance of decolonial struggles and the hope that state-funded institutions might one day facilitate these discussions, even if they cannot guarantee safe spaces beyond a certain limited conception of safety, and that is police control.
Flagging Up the Cancelled
In Germany, the 2024 debate on “cancel culture” diverges sharply from wider international discourse. As Yossi Bartal and Emily Dische-Becker explored, the term conflates grassroots de-platforming with state-enforced penalties for dissent. These dynamics are rooted in historical and geopolitical complexities, creating nuanced forms of repression.
Bartal, a Jewish journalist and activist from Jerusalem, shared an early experience of “cancellation” in 2004. At 17, he found himself deplatformed by a youth center in Bernau over accusations of anti-Semitism – an anecdote that made everyone laugh. For him, this form of cancellation felt organic; a community-driven response in an emblematic leftist space – an anti-deutsch one – asserting its own boundaries. He contrasted this with Germany's state-backed punitive measures, which often target individuals for political opinions. Dische-Becker, a cancelation-geek, Director of Diaspora Alliance and a researcher at Forensis, highlighted how grassroots boycotts have evolved into state-sanctioned repression, particularly against Palestinian solidarity. She linked these shifts to Israeli public relations campaigns aimed at criminalizing dissent, and Germany's adoption of these strategies, culminating in resolutions such as the Bundestag's 2019 anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) motion.
Origins of a Culture War
The roots of these dynamics, according to Bartal and Dische-Becker, lie not in Germany, but in Israel. As Bartal explains, Israel’s aggressive rebranding efforts began intensifying around 2009 during Netanyahu’s administration, coinciding with the abandonment of the two-state solution as a viable political horizon. This period saw the Israeli government not only seeking to defend its actions, but actively criminalizing opposition, particularly through anti-BDS legislation.
Dische-Becker traces the exportation of these tactics to Germany, where rightwing thinktanks and pro-Israel lobby groups have influenced policy. She pointed to early incidents like the 2009 Felicia Langer controversy and the 2012 attempt to rescind Judith Butler's Adorno Prize as precursors to the broader institutionalization of these measures. Over time, isolated cases evolved into a widespread phenomenon, with individuals being reported for their social media activity or past affiliations, often anonymously.
The Machinery of Repression
The conversation delves deeply into the mechanics of this “snitch industry”, as Dische-Becker terms it. Figures such as Benjamin Weinthal, a journalist for the Jerusalem Post, have played an instrumental role in shaping the discourse. Weinthal’s method of amplifying minor controversies into ostensible scandals has relied on leveraging respected institutions such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center to add weight to his claims. These efforts were part of a broader strategy financed, in part, by the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs, as Bartal notes.
This machinery of surveillance and denunciation found fertile ground in Germany, where city councils, and, later, federal bodies adopted anti-BDS resolutions. The 2019 Bundestag resolution condemning BDS as anti-Semitic was a watershed moment, formalizing restrictions on funding and space for Palestinian solidarity activism. Dische-Becker described the chilling effect this has had, with artists, academics and politicians, facing penalties for their affiliations or statements.
Fig.1
Chronology of Suppressing Efforts against Palestinians and Palestinian Solidarity Activism:
2020: The Case of Achille Mbembe in the Ruhr
Invitation and Critique: the Cameroonian philosopher Achille Mbembe was invited to deliver the opening keynote at the Ruhrtriennale arts festival. His invitation sparked criticism from Felix Klein, Germany’s (gentile-born) Anti-Semitism Commissioner, over Mbembe's alleged support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Amplification and Backlash: the media and political figures conflated Mbembe’s critiques of colonialism and apartheid with accusations of anti-Semitism. This led to a global conversation about academic freedom, free expression, and the misuse of anti-Semitism accusations to silence discourse.
Global Response: scholars, artists, and activists rallied in defense of Mbembe, condemning the misuse of anti-Semitism charges to stifle criticism of Israeli policies and highlighting the urgent need for solidarity in academic and cultural spaces.
2021: The Case of Nemi El-Hassan
Announcement of Career Milestone: Palestinian-Lebanese-German journalist Nemi El-Hassan was appointed host of a new science TV show, a career milestone that soon turned controversial.
Trigger Incident: A 2014 video surfaced showing El-Hassan attending an Al-Quds Day demonstration, where some attendees made anti-Semitic remarks (though these remarks were not made by her), and were immediately condemned by the organizers. The media reduced the entire event to these remarks, implicating El-Hassan as well.
Amplification by Right Wing Actors: rightwing social media influencers, including a banned YouTuber, disseminated the footage, gaining traction in the Springer press and igniting a public outcry.
Media Interrogation: tabloid and right-wing outlets demanded El-Hassan’s removal, questioning her ability to discuss science as a Muslim. Islamophobic attacks ensued, and, despite her public apology, she faced professional fallout.
Evidence Expansion and Dismissal: further “evidence”, including Instagram likes of posts from Jewish Voice for Peace, led to her dismissal from multiple media outlets, and her career as a journalist was effectively terminated.
Impact: the case illuminated the deep-rooted Islamophobia, intersectional biases against women of color, and the weaponization of media narratives to silence dissenting voices.
October 2023: The Case of Adania Shibli and the Frankfurt Book Fair
Literary Recognition Canceled: the Palestinian author Adania Shibli was scheduled to receive a prestigious literary award for her novel, Minor Detail, which explores colonial violence and memory in Palestine.
Cancellation and Justification: the award ceremony was canceled following the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza, framed as an attempt to avoid “current sensitivities”. No clear connection between Shibli’s work and political events was cited.
International Condemnation: writers, scholars, and organizations worldwide condemned the cancellation as an effort to silence Palestinian voices in the literary sphere, undermining the Frankfurt Book Fair’s commitment to free expression. This continues to have no further effect on the event itself.
From October 2023 Onwards: The Archive of Silence
Case of the Berlin Literature Festival: a panel on Edward Said’s legacy was canceled after allegations that a panelist supported BDS. Despite the absence of evidence, the institution cited concerns about potential backlash.
Cancellation of Palestinian Film Screenings: several independent cinemas withdrew Palestinian films from their schedules in Hamburg and Cologne, citing pressure from local officials and vague references to the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, despite the films not being materially connected to BDS.
Boycotting Artists with Alleged Connections to BDS: Berlin galleries received anonymous threats for exhibiting artists with perceived pro-Palestinian stances. A show in Neukölln was canceled after sponsors withdrew, citing reputational risks.
The Case of Candice Breitz and the Saarbrücken Museum
Event Withdrawal: the South African artist Candice Breitz’s solo exhibition was canceled, allegedly due to her criticisms of Israeli policies.
Public Statement: Breitz publicly condemned the use of “soft laws” to silence political dissent and criticized German art institutions for their role in narrowing artistic freedom and freedom of speech.
Cultural Fallout: the incident intensified discussions about the increasing intersection of artistic freedom, political repression, and the growing influence of authoritarianism within the German cultural sector.
October 2024: Heb Jamal and Academic Silencing
Disinvitation from Academic Panel: the Palestinian-American activist Heb Jamal was invited to speak on a panel about education and equity at a Heidelberg university faculty, but was disinvited under pressure, with the university citing her alleged BDS ties and a post from her from October 2023 claiming that the decolonial struggle is "dirty, (...) but necessary".
Impact: Jamal’s disinvitation underscores a broader trend of preemptive censorship in academia, where “neutrality” is claimed as a tool to exclude critical voices, particularly those challenging structural inequities.
November 2024: Frieda Toranzo Jaeger and the Intersection of Art and Activism
Fellowship Cancelation: Mexican artist Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, whose work explores gender, colonialism, and identity, faced backlash after signing the initial letter of the Strike Germany movement.
Institution Distancing: the Leopold-Hoesch-Museum and the Günther-Peill Foundation distanced itself from Toranzo Jaeger, citing her “controversial statements” and forcing a public mutual agreement.
Broader Context: this case exemplifies the risks faced by artists who align themselves with global justice struggles, particularly in Germany, where cultural spaces are increasingly pressured to enforce political conformity.
The Question of Funding (QofF) that was undermined during the time of Documenta Fifteen in 2022, specially for Yazan Khalili’s, positions on the BDS movement and ties to the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre in Ramallah, accusations which led to racially motivated attacks on the group’s contribution to documenta. These accusations, as well as their dubious source, have been well documented in the media since.
Between Then and Now
Here is a list of recurrent systemic patterns to look at and work against:
Self-Censorship in Cultural Institutions: a rising trend of preemptive cancellations reflects institutions’ growing fear of backlash, eroding the integrity of cultural spaces as platforms for open discourse.
Marginalization of Palestinian and Allied Voices: the systematic exclusion of Palestinian voices and their allies, seen in the aforementioned cases, highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and visibility in cultural and academic spheres.
Weaponization of “Neutrality” and “Anti-Anti-Semitism”: The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism continues to be misused, preventing critical discourse and creating an environment where dissent is suppressed without legal accountability.
Erosion of Cultural and Academic Spaces: These developments reveal the fragility of spaces of higher education, which have increasingly become arenas of compliance, driven by political pressures disguised as “neutrality” or “sensitivity”. The rise of self-censorship within cultural institutions signals a troubling future for artistic and intellectual freedom in Germany.
Expansion of Cancel Culture: Public accusations and institutional exclusions have expanded beyond individuals to entire organizations and cultural events, with criticism of Israel becoming a basis for exclusion and silencing.
Institutionalized Soft Laws in Germany: the IHRA definition of antisemitism is increasingly treated as “soft law”, allowing estate agents to suppress dissent without legal scrutiny, further embedding semi-legal frameworks that silence critical voices.
Proliferation of State Agents: figures like the gentile-born Felix Klein and Uwe Becker operate without clear legal mandates, enforcing political conformity through threats of preemptive cancellations, targeting voices critical of Israeli policies.
Budget Prioritization: funding for initiatives targeting alleged anti-Semitism remains disproportionately high, despite widespread cuts elsewhere, further entrenching the political agenda behind such initiatives.
Escalation and Shift in Cultural Policies: recognition events have been canceled to avoid controversy, and cultural institutions now increasingly reflect compliance with political pressures, rooted in xenophobic and anti-Semitic stereotypes.
Calls for Refusal: while there is growing demand for resistance and refusal to participate in compromised cultural processes, activists and art workers outside cultural institutions lack the tools needed to challenge the pervasive authoritarian drift, relying heavily on international solidarity.
Beyond Germany
Bartal and Dische-Becker situated these developments within a transnational context. They trace the origins of anti-BDS legislation to the United States, where conservative think tanks first tested such measures in states with minimal BDS activity. This model, aimed at penalizing support for Palestinian activism, has since been replicated in countries including Germany, creating a transnational framework for silencing dissent. What distinguishes Germany, however, is the interplay between its historical responsibility for the Holocaust and its political alignment with the State of Israel. This unique context has enabled pro-Israel actors to frame Solidarity with Palestinians as part of the fight against anti-Semitism, despite criticism from Jewish voices advocating for Palestinian rights. This only emphasizes the moral and intellectual rigidity of Germany’s discourse on Israel-Palestine, which continues to stifle nuanced debate.
God Damn History
There are no random acts, but the farce-loop of history: Ghayath Almadhoun closed the weekend with a call to witness and resist the growing erasure of voices, voices that dare to speak truth in a world where silence is the new norm. In this land of supposed freedom, Almadhoun noted with grave concern, we find the shadows of a more oppressive past creeping back into the present, where voices are stifled not because of what they say, but because of who speaks. His words echoed a sorrowful truth: the same institutions that once purported to celebrate dissent now have withdrawn, allowing the forces of censorship to thrive unchecked.
Overall, the symposium is a reminder that the cuts in cultural funding – once seen as largely fiscal decisions – are, in fact, tools of exclusion, wielded to silence the very voices that challenge the status quo. Many art workers continue to choose not to speak out, fearing further punishment. This silence, Almadhoun pointed out, is not a mark of peace, but of fear – a fear cultivated by a climate that chills the very essence of free expression. “Silence is complicity,” he said, urging us to never turn away from the injustices unfolding. With knowledge comes responsibility, and now, more than ever, we must speak. Speak out. Speak with each other. The freedom with which we allow ourselves to speak is a weapon against totalitarianism, a force that challenges oppression and that demands recognition of mutual dignity, and for the unyielding defense of free speech. There was a word I missed throughout the event, and that is: Reconciliation. I realized this when I heard him say: “God Damn History! Fuck the Occupation! Free Palestine!”
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- Image Credits
Cover, Fig. 1: “How to Work together?” series of posters based on collective meetings asking this question, part of “Debt” exhibition, Qalandiya International 2018. Co-curated by Reem Shadid and Yazan Khalili, poster design in arabic and english: Yazan Khalili.
