German police vow to crack down on custom of smacking women at Klaasohm festival

As The Local has reported, the North Sea island of Borkum's pre-Christmas celebrations have been in the spotlight after German media exposed violence against women. 

The Klaasohm festival, an island tradition that dates back almost two centuries, involves a street celebration on the eve of December 5th into Nikolaustag (St Nicholas Day) on December 6th.

As well as celebrating with drinks and dancing, a small group of men dress up as a figure known as "Klaasohm", wearing large helmets covered in fur and feathers. 

The groups then runs through the town surrounded by male "helpers". They hunt down young women, "capture" them and the "Klaasohm" beats the women on their buttocks with cow horns.

READ ALSO: Why a German island is scrapping its violent Christmas tradition

Police on Thursday said they would have a strong presence at the event after reports of the violence caused a public outcry. 

"We want to ensure the safety of the citizens here today," said Malte Hagspihl, spokesman for the Osnabrück police headquarters, adding: "We want to prevent criminal offences."

The police spokesman did not provide details on the number of police officers deployed when asked. 

Hagspihl said, however, that German customs and tradition do not protect against prosecution.

"As soon as we become aware of criminal offences, we will intervene," he said.

Hagspihl also confirmed that four reports of suspected dangerous bodily harm were filed with police at the end of November this year.

They related to incidents that allegedly occurred during Klaasohm 2023 on the island. So far, these charges have not been received by the public prosecutor's office, but Hagspihl said "proceedings are still ongoing".

The investigative report by the ARD magazine programme Panorama about the tradition, sparked outrage across Germany and went viral on social media. 

In the programme, women from Borkum reported anonymously on aggressive assaults they had experienced. Last year, a team filmed footage that showed women being held down on the street by "captors" at the festival and beaten on their behind.

Following fierce criticism, the organisers announced they would abolish the "custom of beating" this year.

Island mayor Jürgen Akkermann and the Borkum Boys' Association pledged to modernise the festival and adapt the tradition to current social values.

With additional reporting from DPA