Jews in Germany have been warned to avoid wearing traditional skullcaps in public in certain parts of the country, amid concerns over a rise in anti-Semitism.
Anti-Semitism commissioner Felix Klein reportedly said he could not recommend to Jews that they wear the traditional kippah in some areas.
According to the BBC, Mr Klein told the Funke newspaper group: I cannot recommend to Jews that they wear the skullcap at all times everywhere in Germany.
His comments come amid concerns over a rise in anti-Semitism in Germany, with official figures showing hate crimes against Jews had increased by 10% in 2018 compared to the previous year.
In his interview, Mr Klein suggested that the internet and social media could be contributing to a rise in anti-Semitism.
He called for police officers, teachers, and lawyers to receive training to clarify what is allowed and what is not when dealing with the issue.
Claudia Vanoni, Germany’s top legal expert on anti-Semitism, recently told AFP that the prejudice remained deeply rooted in German society.
She said: Anti-Semitism has always been here. But I think that recently, it has again become louder, more aggressive and flagrant.