His black eye patch is scary.
It will stick with him forever. But Michael T. (61, name altered) wears it with defiance and determination. Just like his black kippah.
His fight against Jew-hatred in our city continues! On Friday, Michael T. came to the criminal justice building: He was a witness and joint plaintiff in the trial against the alleged thug Aram A. (17) and his brother (15). The two Berliners with Syrian roots allegedly attacked T. in September at a Jewish vigil in Mönckebergstraße, whereby only the older one is said to have struck: His cheekbone, nose bone and glasses were smashed. A piece of glass injured T.’s right eye so severely that he has been blind ever since.
“There was a request by the defence lawyer, an attempt to apologise, whether this could not be sorted out. But I don’t believe him. That was just tactics,” T. tells the newspaper BILD. He is convinced that the attack was out of pure hatred for Jews: “They didn’t leave afterwards, they even laughed, that was quite normal for them. Appalling!”
The public prosecutor’s office also seems to assume anti-Semitic motives, because the file number they gave this case starts with 71: 7101Js1209/21. Department 71 is the state protection department, responsible for politically motivated crimes.
Because the defendants are minors, the trial is being held in camera.
According to BILD information, Aram A. Freitag has pleaded self-defence. The verdict is due in August.