Cem Özdemir, the German Federal Minister of Education and a member of the Green Party, has called for stronger measures against students exhibiting anti-Semitic behavior in schools.

In recent remarks, Özdemir highlighted troubling incidents in educational settings where Jewish students have been removed from classrooms for their protection, advocating instead that parents who promote anti-Semitic views should be summoned to school.

He suggested that, in severe cases, students displaying such behavior should face expulsion from school.

Özdemir expressed significant concerns regarding the lack of historical knowledge among younger generations, specifically relating to critical events such as the Holocaust.

Recent surveys indicate that more than one in ten Germans aged 18 to 29 are reportedly unaware of the term 'Holocaust', while approximately 40% do not recognize that six million Jews were killed during this time.

He emphasized the importance of ongoing education about the Holocaust, especially in increasingly diverse classrooms.

Özdemir stated, "No one is born anti-Semitic; children are taught to be that way."

In addition to addressing the issue of anti-Semitism in schools, Özdemir critiqued the German government's engagement with Islamic organizations, suggesting a deficiency in understanding among policymakers.

He pointed out that, particularly in the context of Islamic religious instruction in schools and forums such as the German Islam Conference, policymakers often engage with inappropriate representatives, resulting in ineffective discussions and solutions.

As the first German Federal Minister of Education with Turkish roots, Özdemir underlined the necessity for religious communities to fulfill specific criteria to provide denominational religious instruction.

He indicated that there is a concerning trend of neglecting these requirements, especially regarding Islamic education, where superficial approvals may obscure more profound underlying issues.

Özdemir acknowledged that there have been improvements in the training of imams providing teachings in German, as well as in encouraging German-language sermons.

However, he raised alarms about the content of these sermons, noting that some of the most dangerous Islamist preachers conduct their sermons in German.

He criticized the prevailing political narrative that often focuses solely on the use of language as an indicator of the effectiveness of these teachings.

Reflecting on his past positions, Özdemir recalled his opposition to the recognition of certain Islamic umbrella organizations that are influenced predominantly from abroad.

He specifically cited the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) as an example of an organization that operates under the control of the Turkish government.