The Passagen-project originated at the University of Leiden. In the beginning it concerned a controversy about the German theater play Passage by the DDR-writer Christoph Hein. This play and its name go back to the Jewish writer and critic Walter Benjamin who died under nazi persecution and to his famous Passagen-Werk.

The Passage(n)-project contains many different aspects and activities: in the first place a very serious and well-documented whistleblower-case about censuring and intimidation at the University of Leiden. Second, it is a research project about Walter Benjamin and his work as well as the anti-Semitism in the play Passage. Third, it is an artistic project, with a satirical German/Dutch/English/Latin text collage and daily flute concerts in Leiden.

Politically the project is a revolt against intolerance and narrow-mindedness at the University of Leiden and in society and fights for the right of critical thinking. Recently the project is mainly concerned with the members of the neo-conservative and anti-islamic Burke Foundation at Leiden University.

Texts in English on the site: www.passagenproject.com/cleveringaengels.html

www.passagenproject.com/neoconservatism.html

Maria Trepp