Understanding to Act — in the service of Freedom.
The Zera Institute is dedicated to strengthening liberal democracy and promoting a culture of respect and responsibility. Based in Berlin, it develops interdisciplinary responses to the defining challenges of our time: polarization, extremism, radicalization, the erosion of trust in institutions, the rise of hatred, and the weakening of liberal values.
We unite science, education, art, culture, and media within a shared framework to address these dynamics with analytical depth, cultural insight, and practical impact. In an age where hate and extremism spread faster than traditional institutions can respond, we bridge research and action, reflection and communication.
Our mission is to turn knowledge into action and to demonstrate how societies can become more resilient, transparent, and humane.
News
Statement by Maral Salmassi, Chair of the Zera Institute
An article by Daniel Bax in the German newspaper taz reports that I referred to the Jewish billionaire and philanthropist George Soros as a “parasite” on social media. This is correct. I expressly regret the statement I made in February 2025. The term carries antisemitic connotations and is unacceptable, even in the context of political criticism of Soros. It was a mistake to use it.
At the same time, it should be noted that the outrage surrounding this statement is being amplified by individuals well known for their criticism of Israel and who can hardly claim moral authority in debates on antisemitism.
Mr. Bax’s journalism represents a form of Israel criticism that is regularly criticized for disregarding its antisemitic dimensions. He has, for example, opposed the classification of the boycott movement against Israel (BDS) as antisemitic. A similar pattern was evident in a Spiegel article by Hannes Schrader and Nikolai Antoniadis (December 2025), which—contrary to the magazine’s established journalistic standards—personally discredited our female Jewish staff in a manner that was sexist in its effect, publicly questioning their qualifications and thereby casting doubt on the work of the Zera Institute as a whole.
This journalistic focus does not stem from antisemitism within the Zera Institute. On the contrary, it reflects discomfort with the fact that the Zera Institute actively combats antisemitism—particularly in its currently dominant, Israel-related form—and explicitly addresses antisemitism emanating from extreme left-wing and Islamist milieus.
The Zera Institute works on the basis of the IHRA definition. Our research and activities are documented and open to public scrutiny.
18.02.2026
