Watchdog concerned about anti-Semitism among Muslims in German schools

The German government's anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, has said he is concerned about daily evidence of anti-Semitic behaviour in the country's schools.

Muslim children and young people are "also and especially" involved, Klein said in remarks published Wednesday in the Rheinische Post newspaper.

"It is alarming that the exclamation 'You Jew' as a swear word has found widespread use in German schoolyards - also and especially in Muslim milieus," Klein warned.

Dialogue

He suggested that teachers should seek dialogue both with families and with their religious leaders, noting that nobody is born an anti-Semite.

"Mosque communities are called upon to take action against anti-Semitism in their own ranks," said Klein.

Earlier this year, Klein had called for schools to be obliged to keep track of and report anti-Semitic incidents.