Alexander Dobrindt
Alexander DobrindtReuters

Germany's Federal Minister of Transport Alexander Dobrindt on Thursday announced an investigation into Kuwait Airways' refusal to fly Israeli passengers, which he says is a violation of aviation law, The Lawfare Project reported.

The Lawfare Project is providing legal aid to the Israelis refused passage by Kuwait Airways.

The lawsuit will be heard in Frankfurt.

Earlier this year, two researchers from the University of Minnesota found that several airlines, including Kuwait Airways, used maps of the Middle East which did not show Israel. In addition, several passengers complained that Kuwait Airways would not allow them to board because they are Israeli.

One of the passengers, Nas, posted about his experience on Facebook, in a video which garnered 727,000 views.

Former Bundestag member Volker Beck (Green Party) on Monday told the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper that Kuwait Airways should either "stop the discrimination or stop doing business in Germany."

"We commend the German Federal Ministry of Transport for launching an investigation into Kuwait Airways’ discriminatory practices. Our team will continue to pursue legal action until the German Government makes clear that Kuwait Airways must either comply with the law or cease doing business in their country," The Lawfare Project Executive Director Brooke Goldstein said.

"This case makes clear that there should be no room for discrimination in Germany. Our country’s laws and common values should call German policymakers to act immediately in ending Kuwait Airways’ systematic violations of civil rights in our country," The Lawfare Project German counsel Nathan Gelbart said.