Berlin
– the Berlin radio station KissFM defines and calls itself “a multi-culture
integrative radio station of the capital.” However, for the past few days it
has been the target of criticism due to an uncritical interview with the
Neo-Nazi rapper Makss Damage.
During
the broadcast program “Facetalk”, the two hosts, Lukas Klaschinski and Toyah
Diebel, conversed with the musician under the slogan “Germany – your country”,
and presented him with questions for about 30 minutes.
But,
instead of confronting the 28 year old man with his anti-Semitic and racist
texts, they posed to him uninteresting and irrelevant questions like: “Do you
eat at Döner (a Turkish food
chain in Germany)?” or “Are you proud to be a German?” When the rapper solemnly
confirmed that he “will talk to anyone who turns to him straightforwardly” the
lady host lauded him for his “Tolerance. Not every one of my friends would have
said that.”
Furthermore,
she wanted to hear from the rapper if he would really define himself as a
Neo-Nazi. He would not have objected to it, said Makss Damage: “I can live with
it, it is by no means an insult.” The rapper, whose real name is Julian
Fritsch, has already been convicted of popular incitement.
Makss
Damage does not hide his political views: “I convey poisonous gas lyrically to
communities which are Jewish.” “Europe, wake up, your children are waiting, the
white race, the Arian,” or “I put all of you together on the train to Buchenwald, wash me with
soap, enjoy the lampshade.”- so say his texts.
The
fact that the author of such phrases is allowed to appear on a live broadcast
and to defend his right-wing views – has stirred angry reactions, first and
foremost on the social networks. “How can they provide a stage for a Neo-Nazi?”
was said in the KissFM Facebook page.
“It
is really shameful that a radio station would bestow such undeserved attention on
a Nazi,” writes another listener. The criticism is aimed also at the two hosts,
who were, it was claimed, far too uncritical.
“Hosts
who do not attack and condemn phantasies about gas poisoning in the sharpest
terms – have not become wiser for it,” writes a listener.
