A Berlin gallery threatened by Muslim extremists will reopen under guard.
The satirical political exhibit, which mocks anti-Zionist conspiracy theories, was expected to be open Tuesday after being shut down nearly a week.
Six Muslims reportedly had demanded the removal of a work that depicted the Arab holy city of Mecca with the caption “Dumb Stone†and, according to the Tiergarten Art Association, reportedly threatened the staff of Galerie Nord in Berlin’s Mitte, the center of the city.
The local mayor, Christian Hanke, organized a private guard, allowing the gallery’s reopening. Hanke also is holding his district meeting at the gallery Tuesday. High-level officials are expected to attend, including Berlin’s interior and culture secretaries. The work in question was among 21 of a Danish artists’ collective called Surrend. A member of the collective said the exhibit was meant to make fun of neo-Nazi anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, which are popular in some Arab countries. Another poster on display depicts an Orthodox Jew with a head covering and the caption “Dumb hat.â€
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