Gil Ofarim against Leipzig “Westin”: The current status of the scandal for you

Gil Ofarim accuses the employees of the Leipzig hotel “Westin” of having insulted him anti-Semitically. The singer filed a complaint, as did the accused hotel employee. In the meantime, more and more contradictions became apparent. What we know – and what not.

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Ofarim trouble in Leipzig hotel: The most important things in a nutshell

• What exactly happened on the evening of October 4th in the Leipzig hotel “Westin”? Singer Gil Ofarim said in an Instagram video that he was rejected at check-in because of his Star of David. Ofarim spoke of anti-Semitic libel.
• A huge wave of indignation broke out after the video. But now a video from a surveillance camera appeared.
• The pictures show that Ofarim did not wear a Star of David around his neck that evening. What is known about the case so far …

What Ofarim initially accused of the “Westin”

• Ofarim recorded a video on the curb in front of the entrance after the incident at the hotel. In the video he wears a Star of David around his neck.
• Ofarium was not allowed to check in, he says in the video. “A Mr. W. told me, ‘pack your star’. If I wrap it up, I can check in. “

What happened after Ofarim’s video was released

• The video (now 3.5 million views) caused great outrage. Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Dulig (SPD), said, for example, that it made him “angry”.
• In front of the hotel there was a spontaneous demonstration out of solidarity with Ofarim and as a sign against anti-Semitism in Germany.
• The hotel released two employees immediately after the case became known. The measure applies for the duration of the investigation.
• Ofarim filed a criminal complaint against the “Westin” employee on October 12th. The Saxon police heard the singer in his home in Munich.
• The hotel employee also filed a complaint – for defamation.
• The Marriott group, to which the Leipzig hotel belongs, expressed “deep regret” about the incident.

Video emerges almost two weeks after the incident – a turning point in the case?

• On Saturday, October 16, “Bild” shows a video from a surveillance camera from the hotel. Ofarim walks through the hotel entrance in the video. He does not wear a Star of David around his neck.
• “Several videos have been secured by the surveillance cameras,” says a spokesman for the Leipzig public prosecutor’s office. No information could yet be given about the content.
• According to “Bild”, the Leipzig police have “serious doubts” about the course of the incident described by Ofarim.
• According to an expert opinion from a law firm, there is no evidence that the video from the surveillance camera has been tampered with.

What Ofarim says after the video became known

• “The sentence that came came from behind. That means someone recognized me. It’s not about the chain. It’s actually about something much bigger. Since I am often seen on TV with the Star of David, I was due offended by it. “
• Subsequently, Ofarim asserted several times that he had worn the Star of David. “I didn’t lie,” says the singer.

What is the next step in the Gil Ofarim case?

• In “Bild”, Chief Public Prosecutor Ricardo Schulz says that it is currently not foreseeable “by when and with what result the investigation will be completed”.
• On November 12, the public prosecutor wrote that the report on the surveillance videos was available. As part of the ongoing investigation, the results are now being evaluated. Details of the report and also of testimony and interrogations would not be given at the moment, but only after the investigation has been concluded.
• The hotel wants to await the result of the police investigation. “We are of the opinion that all indications are best evaluated in the context of this overall investigation,” it said. Nevertheless, the hotel also made its own investigations.

What remains unclear in the Ofarim case

• Why was Ofarim really turned away? Because of the Star of David, as it is claimed? Or, as indicated by the hotel, because of an argument in the check-in line?
• A witness who was also in line that evening said of Ofarim: “He was talking, gesticulating, and obviously wanted to go to his room.” Then the singer left the hotel. The witness could not remember a statement about the Star of David.
• Ofarim said on “Bild”: “I can understand that, according to the pictures, it looks like I hadn’t been wearing it. But that’s not true, I always have it on and I don’t take it off. “
• A 118-page final report from a law firm commissioned by the hotel contradicts Ofarim’s description. None of the respondents confirmed Ofarim’s account that the argument was about the Star of David. Instead, one guest reported that Ofarim had threatened with a video that would “go viral” because of alleged preferences for other guests.
• Ofarim himself did not want to comment on the hotel’s report. He says he was “offended because of the Star of David”. The 39-year-old emphasizes that you know him with the star from appearances on television. In fact, a number of pictures and videos from the past show that Ofarim usually wears a chain around his neck. However, with changing followers. Very often he wears his necklace under a shirt so that the pendant cannot be seen.

More interesting news:

The health authorities in Germany reported 33,498 new infections to the RKI on Sunday. The nationwide 7-day incidence reached 289.0, the seventh high in a row. All current news about the corona pandemic can be found here in the news ticker from FOCUS Online.

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