Berlin police said Friday they have launched an investigation into Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas over his comments on the Holocaust during a recent visit to the German capital.
Police have received a complaint accusing Abbas of “relativising the Holocaust” and are investigating “on suspicion of inciting hatred”, a police spokeswoman told AFP.
Any relevant findings will be passed to Berlin prosecutors who will eventually decide whether a crime has been committed.
At a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, Abbas had accused Israel of committing “50 Holocausts” against Palestinians since 1947.
Read more: Nakba and Holocaust: The tussle of rival memories
Scholz did not immediately challenge Abbas on his comments but, following widespread criticism, tweeted on Wednesday that he was “disgusted by the outrageous remarks” made by the Palestinian leader.
In Israel, Abbas’ remarks drew a hail of condemnation from Prime Minister Yair Lapid and others.
(Gerd Buurmann) Bei einer Pressekonferenz im Kanzleramt warf „Palästinenserpräsident“ Mahmud Abbas Israel „50 Holocausts“ an den Arabern vor. Olaf Scholz schwieg dazu und zeigte sich erst später überrascht und empört. #holocaust #scholz #abbashttps://t.co/H6nCvcO9ms
— Die Achse des Guten (@Achgut_com) August 17, 2022
“Mahmud Abbas accusing Israel of having committed ’50 Holocausts’ while standing on German soil is not only a moral disgrace, but a monstrous lie,” Lapid wrote on Twitter.
According to Germany’s Bild daily, the foreign ministry believes Abbas will benefit from diplomatic immunity because he was in Germany on an “official visit”.
But Michael Kubiciel, a professor of criminal law quoted by Bild, said Abbas could only enjoy immunity if he had been in Germany “as a representative of another state”.
Read more: Holocaust denial is not freedom of speech, rules European court
Germany does not recognise Palestine as a country, but maintains diplomatic relations with the Palestinian territories.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk