In a proactive measure to combat antisemitism, Germany announces plans to include questions related to the Jewish religion and the State of Israel in its citizenship test.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized to De Spiegel magazine that "contempt for humanity rules out naturalization," indicating the government's stance against antisemitism, racism, and similar ideologies.
Under the new citizenship test, applicants seeking German nationality may face questions regarding the Jewish place of worship, the founding year of Israel, and Germany's historical obligations to it. Additionally, topics such as Holocaust denial penalties and membership requirements for Jewish sports clubs could feature in the examination.
This initiative comes as part of Germany's efforts to ease strict citizenship laws, fulfilling a key promise made by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government upon assuming power in late 2021. Despite initial plans for reform presented in August, heightened scrutiny followed October's attack on Israel, coupled with a rise in antisemitic incidents within Germany.
In addition to demonstrating commitment to the constitution, applicants must now pledge to protect Jewish life within Germany. The revised legislation also shortens the residency requirement for citizenship from eight years to five under standard conditions, with exceptional cases allowing eligibility after three years for highly integrated individuals with proficient German language skills.
The decision to incorporate questions about Israel and Jews into the citizenship test coincides with a notable surge in antisemitic incidents following the October attack. Scholz has reiterated his commitment to safeguarding Germany's Jewish community amidst these challenging times. Photo by JouWatch, Wikimedia commons.