Deutsche Welle Fires Employee for Allegedly Antisemitic Comments Made in Interviews

The German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) has suspended another freelance staff member from its Arabic editorial team following allegations of违反 the Code of Conduct. The report comes via the “Welt” newspaper.

The correspondent in question gave an interview in September 2025 to Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese outlet that is known for its pro-Iranian stance and its strong ties to the militant group Hezbollah. During the TV segment, the DW employee stated that West Germany supports Israel in order to maintain access to global financial markets, adding that many influential figures controlling these markets are supporters of Israel or of Jewish interests.

The Deutsche Welle did not comment specifically on the personnel decision. However, the broadcaster informed the newspaper that, “We cannot comment on individual personnel matters. Antisemitic conspiracy theories clearly violate the DW Code of Conduct. When violations occur, we initiate appropriate labor law measures”. This is not the first instance, as ‘Bild’ had previously reported in April about antisemitic remarks made by two other DW employees on social media, leading the broadcaster to terminate those collaborations.

In response to the broader challenges, the DW announced plans to continually refine its recruitment processes. This effort involves expanding pre-employment social media screening for all staff. A spokesperson noted that while they are currently assessing how additional tools could support the manual and time-consuming screening process, they are also considering broadening the time span for review when these tools are utilized.

Currently, the DW reviews applicants’ social media accounts covering a six-month period. Despite this, the broadcaster emphasized that comprehensive or exhaustive monitoring of social media accounts is neither their current right nor, according to existing law, always feasible. Instead, the DW plans to proactively and positively communicate its values when recruiting new staff.