Mannheim Court Opens Hate-Incitement Case Against Xavier Naidoo

The Mannheim Regional Court has opened criminal proceedings against singer Xavier Naidoo over allegations that he spread antisemitic content. The court admitted a 2023 indictment accusing the 54-year-old of hate incitement in one case, combined with insult.

A trial date has not been set. Prosecutors allege that Naidoo insulted a person associated with the Amadeu Antonio Foundation and published antisemitic texts in that context. The investigation followed several criminal complaints, including one from the alleged victim.

The court did not admit the remaining charges in a second hate-incitement case, citing insufficient suspicion. Prosecutors have appealed that decision, and the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court is reviewing the appeal. The second indictment was filed in June 2024.

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There is not enough suspicion for a main trial.

Naidoo’s lawyers were not immediately available for comment, according to dpa. In 2024, they said they were confident that neither indictment would be admitted and that there was not enough suspicion for a main trial. They said their client rejected antisemitic, racist and xenophobic ideas, distanced himself from all discrimination and considered the allegations false.

The article also recalled a February 2026 appearance by Naidoo at a rally for survivors of sexualized violence near the Federal Chancellery. He spoke about “people who eat our children,” said everyone may have unknowingly consumed human body parts and accused a snack maker of seasoning chips with “embryonic seasoning.” The report noted that an earlier version incorrectly said proceedings had opened on four hate-incitement counts. The court actually admitted only one case.

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He rejects any antisemitic, racist or xenophobic ideas. He distances himself from every form of discrimination.