"A state auditor's investigation released this week found that the funds were arbitrarily and clearly unlawfully distributed to 13 projects on a list compiled by lawmakers from the co-ruling Christian Democrats (CDU), despite concerns raised by culture office staff that the groups had not been properly vetted."
"Wedl-Wilson, who does not belong to a political party, signed off on the funding nevertheless, after a pressure campaign by the CDU representatives."
"Soon after its founding in 2024, the director, Maral Salmassi, called the Jewish billionaire philanthropist George Soros, a frequent target of antisemitic propaganda, a parasite on social media, according to the news magazine Der Spiegel."
Sarah Wedl-Wilson resigned as Berlin's culture senator amid a funding scandal involving 2.6 million euros intended for antisemitism programs. She had previously dismissed state secretary Oliver Friederici, who raised concerns about the irregular distribution of funds to 13 projects. An auditor's investigation revealed that the funds were unlawfully allocated, despite warnings from culture office staff. Mayor Kai Wegner accepted her resignation, emphasizing the need to protect the fight against rising antisemitism. The inquiry also scrutinized the Zera Institute, which received significant funding despite controversial statements from its director.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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