German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann criticized teachers for their role in the recent pro-Palestinian protests at German universities and called on them to bear responsibility, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"Personally, I would like professors to encourage their students to present arguments. In universities, in particular, the stronger argument should matter, not the louder scream," the minister told the "Funke" media group.
„There should be no threats, no insults, no approval of criminal offences“, Minister Bushman added.
Protests continue at German universities over Israel's actions in the Gaza conflict, with students expressing solidarity with the Palestinians. An occupation at the Free University of Berlin a few weeks ago was broken up by the police.
On Thursday, police cleared parts of Berlin's Humboldt University that had been occupied by about 150 pro-Palestinian activists.
The management of the university initially tolerated the occupation and chose to enter into a dialogue with the occupiers and the professors, although it became the subject of widespread criticism from politicians.
Bushman, a member of the business-oriented Free Democrat Party, said that “Hamas” is responsible for the suffering in Gaza and stressed Germany's responsibility to Israel, adding that those who disagree with this position can benefit from freedom of expression.
„The line is reached where violence is committed or incited, where personal rights are violated or the symbols of terrorist organizations are used,” Bushman said.
According to the Minister of Justice, young people should resolve conflicts with rational arguments, instead of “getting angry with others or threatening them with fists”.
Bushman defended the police operations: “Universities are special places, but they are not outside the law. Demonstrations on university campuses are subject to the same rules as other demonstrations, Bushman said.
„This is why, of course, it is right for the police to intervene when the law is broken,” said the German justice minister.