Protestant pastor Ralf Sedlak has been the target of several threats and attacks following a sermon criticising the Hamas attack on Israel in October. The police are now being called in to protect him and his family, as well as to provide security for church services as all members of the congregation face hostility.
In October 2023, Pastor Ralf Sedlak condemned the Hamas attack on Israel in a sermon. Since then, the entire congregation of the Martinskirche (in Langenau) has been the target of several attacks and demonstrations. The authorities had to intervene to ensure that services could be held in safety, and the Minister of the Interior was called in to ensure the safety of the pastor and his family.
Pastor Sedlak said that the solidarity extended to all the victims: "In our church services last year we prayed for peace for the people of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, for the people of Israel, as well as for people suffering from violence in Ukraine, Sudan and elsewhere". Despite this, police had to be permanently stationed outside Martinskirche during the services.
This was necessary because pro-Palestinian activists were "shouting slogans against the congregation, the worshippers and passers-by". Pastor Sedlak himself reported that "after the services there were always turbulent scenes in front of the church".