This is Merkel’s new, “diverse” Germany, where antisemitism is cool again.

“Fury as German rappers accused of anti-Semitism over lyrics comparing themselves to Auschwitz prisoners are awarded music prize on Holocaust Remembrance Day,” Mailonline, April 15, 2018 (thanks to Blazing Cat Fur):

Outrage has grown in Germany after a rap duo accused of anti-Semitism over lyrics comparing themselves to Auschwitz prisoners was awarded a music prize on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

German rappers Kollegah and Farid Bang reference the Nazi death camp in their song ‘0815’, saying their bodies are ‘more defined than an Auschwitz prisoner’.

Despite the controversy which followed, on Thursday they won the Echo Music Award’s Hip-Hop/Urban prize after selling more than 200,000 copies of their album ‘Young, Brutal and Handsome 3’.

The award came on the day that Israel marked Yom HaShoah, its Holocaust Remembrance Day, dedicated to the six million Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II.

Both rappers have said they reject all anti-Semitism, and Kollegah has offered free ‘lifetime’ tickets to the duo’s Jewish fans.

But the lyrics have sparked a heated debate in Germany, which is still haunted by lingering memories of Nazi crimes.

Charlotte Knobloch, former head of the Central Council of Jews, said Friday giving them an award in the hip-hop/urban national category was a ‘devastating sign’ amid growing signs of ‘anti-Semitism in our society, especially in schools.’

Germany’s Justice Minister Heiko Maas said such ‘anti-Semitic provocations’ were ‘simply repugnant’.

‘It is shameful that this prize was awarded on Holocaust Remembrance Day.’

Ronald Lauder, head of the World Jewish Congress group, told the Bild newspaper: ‘In Germany, you now get rewarded for despising women, glorifying violence and mocking Auschwitz victims?’…