German court sentences journalist for meme
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sued over a picture that claimed she “hates freedom of expression”

Es ist das erste Mal in der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik: Journalist droht Gefängnis wegen satirischer „Politiker-Verleumdung“!

A German district court has sentenced David Bendels, editor-in-chief of the conservative publication Deutschland-Kurier, to a suspended seven-month prison term for defaming Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser through a satirical meme.

The controversial meme, posted on Deutschland-Kurier’s X account in February 2024, showed Faeser holding a sign altered to read: “I hate freedom of expression.” The original photo featured the phrase “We Remember,”part of a Holocaust remembrance campaign. Faeser’s legal team filed a criminal complaint, which led to a fine and Monday’s sentencing by the Bamberg District Court in Upper Franconia, Bavaria.

The court found Bendels guilty under Section 188 of the German Criminal Code – a rarely invoked provision sometimes referred to as the “lese-majeste” or “injured majesty” law – which penalizes defamation of public officials, Deutschland-Kurier reported.

Noting that Bendels had no prior criminal record, the court suspended the sentence and placed him on two years’ probation. It also reportedly ordered him to issue a written apology to Faeser.

Bendels and his legal team have vowed to appeal the verdict, arguing that the meme was protected under the rights to freedom of expression and the press. They claim the case sets a troubling precedent for journalistic freedom in Germany.

“We will not accept this verdict and will challenge it by all legal means,” Bendels said. “Deutschland-Kurier and I will personally continue the fight for freedom of the press and expression – firmly, consistently, and with all consequences necessary for the continuation of democracy in Germany.”

Earlier this year, US Vice President J.D. Vance criticized what he called “Orwellian” German speech laws, referring to an interview with three German state prosecutors who explained that insulting someone in public or online is a punishable offense. The interview, aired by CBS, was recorded amid a wave of coordinated police raids across Germany targeting more than 50 individuals accused of spreading hate speech online.

https://www.rt.com/news/615369-germany-journalist-sentenced-meme/

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         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

For the first time in the Federal Republic of Germany, a journalist faces prison for alleged "defamation of politicians." The Bamberg District Court (Upper Franconia/Bavaria) sentenced the publisher and editor-in-chief of Deutschland-Kurier, David Bendels, to a suspended prison sentence of seven months on Monday (April 7, 2025) for publishing a satirical Faeser meme.

Because Bendels has no prior criminal record, the sentence was suspended for two years. The first-instance ruling is not yet final.

The court found that the offense of "defamation against political figures" under the so-called "lese majeste" paragraph 188 of the Criminal Code (StGB) had been committed. The presiding judge even demanded that Bendels submit a written apology to Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD).

Trial observers speak of politically motivated verdict

According to independent trial observers, the verdict can be classified as clearly politically motivated. It clearly aims to intimidate critical journalists and suppress unpopular opinions.

David Bendels and his lawyers announced their intention to appeal the Bamberg court's ruling. The proceedings, which have been ongoing for almost a year and center on a satirical photomontage (meme) featuring Faeser's statement "I hate freedom of expression!", will therefore continue.

David Bendels: "I'll keep fighting!"

DK editor-in-chief David Bendels announced in an initial reaction to the verdict: "We will not accept this verdict and will defend ourselves against it with all legal means. The Deutschland-Kurier and I personally will continue the just fight for freedom of the press and freedom of expression, which is essential for the continued existence of democracy in Germany, resolutely, steadily, and with all consistency."

Faeser filed a criminal complaint

The proceedings concern a satirical photomontage (meme) that critically addresses the strained relationship of former Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) with freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The article was published in February 2024 on the Deutschland-Kurier's X page (formerly Twitter). Faeser subsequently filed a criminal complaint against David Bendels, the editor-in-chief of the Deutschland-Kurier responsible for press law.

Top lawyers consider the article unproblematic

According to leading constitutional and media lawyers, the satirical article is clearly protected by both freedom of the press and freedom of expression and by the established jurisprudence of the Federal Constitutional Court. Among others, the renowned constitutional lawyer, former Federal Minister Rupert Scholz (CDU), and the Hamburg media lawyer Joachim Steinhöfel consider the publication unproblematic. Nevertheless, on November 5, 2024, the Bamberg judiciary, which had made national headlines due to the so-called "idiot" affair and in whose catchment area Bendels also happens to have his private residence, issued a penal order for the unusually high amount of 210 daily rates.

The Bamberg District Court based its ruling, now handed down in the main hearing, on the – from the perspective of Bendels and his lawyers – absurd assumption that the publication in the Deutschland-Kurier newspaper created the impression that Faeser had actually carried a placard reading "I hate freedom of expression!" This constitutes the criminal offense of "defamation of politicians" in conjunction with Section 188 of the Criminal Code, which was tightened four years ago.

Court rejects defense motion

During the trial, the defense expressed considerable doubts as to whether the so-called "lese majeste" provision was compatible with the Basic Law, particularly with regard to Article 5 (freedom of the press and freedom of expression). The defense's motion to submit this issue to the Federal Constitutional Court for review was rejected by the court as unfounded.

https://deutschlandkurier.de/2025/04/es-ist-das-erste-mal-in-der-geschichte-der-bundesrepublik-journalist-droht-gefaengnis-wegen-satirischer-politiker-verleumdung/

The Russian ambassador to Berlin, Sergei J. Nechayev, has described Europe's planned military spending as a security risk for his country. In the NDR documentary "Fear of War: The Germans at a Turning Point," the diplomat warned in a conversation with TV journalist Anne Will that Europe was "a kind of war party because the militarization of Western Europe is in full swing."

When asked about the relationship between Germans and Russians, the ambassador said: "We don't consider ourselves to be in a state of war. Not yet. I don't know if it will come to that."

Nechayev explained the concern allegedly expressed by many Germans, repeatedly asserted by politicians and the media, that Russia could attack another country after Ukraine: "Because people are infected by a militaristic psychosis, which is being escalated in various European countries like never before."

The NDR documentary will be broadcast on Monday (April 7) at 8:15 p.m. on Das Erste and can also be accessed in the ARD Mediathek.

https://deutschlandkurier.de/2025/04/russlands-botschafter-sind-nicht-im-krieg-mit-deutschland-bis-jetzt-nicht/

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YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

Annalena Baerbock as a UN diplomat: Does Germany want to further damage itself internationally?

by Michael von der Schulenburg and Hans-Christof von Sponeck*

Germany once had a very good international reputation in the United Nations (UN). Our country played an active role in the further development of international law, for example in the adoption of the Conventions on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; in the Convention against Torture; and of course, in the Women’s Rights Convention.
  Germany is the fourth largest contributor to the United Nations. Germany also makes large voluntary contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions. The UN General Assembly has welcomed by a large majority the willingness of the German government to take the lead on United Nations reforms in cooperation with the government of Namibia. This cooperation enabled the UN General Assembly to adopt a pact for the future of the United Nations in September 2024.

In terms of foreign policy, Baerbock has left a lot of blood on the carpet

Nevertheless, Germany’s image worldwide is no longer one that does us honour. Time and again, the outgoing government has shown no backbone in terms of UN Charter law and the Geneva Conventions, in its reactions to the major crises of our time, particularly the war in Ukraine and the asymmetrical conflict between Palestine and Israel.
  The one-sidedness of German policy in its statements has repeatedly been met with incomprehension at home – and even more so abroad. At a major international conference in Istanbul in 2023, in discussions with two former foreign ministers, one from the Middle East and another from Europe, we were told how disappointed they were with German foreign policy.
  As former long-standing employees of the United Nations, we have a large network of global contacts. What is important, however, is that these show time and again that German foreign policy has relegated us to a narrow track. Germany continues to lose prestige and influence in Europe and the world.
  “Foreign policy is made in the Chancellery”, SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich once said. Nothing has come of this. The foreign policy China shop was smashed by department minister Annalena Baerbock. In the words of Jeffrey Sachs, the well-known former professor at Columbia University and advisor to three UN Secretaries-General: “Baerbock is a warmonger. I can’t believe what comes out of her mouth.” Sachs reminded the audience that as a diplomat, a foreign minister must be prepared to talk to everyone.1 But Baerbock’s public behaviour has shown time and again that she is not prepared to do so.
  She does not want to support the reduction of tensions or peace negotiations with a willingness to compromise. She is anything but a bridge-builder. Ms Baerbock has repeatedly shown that she does not understand international law and the spirit and ethics of the United Nations Charter. She has proved this with statements such as: We have to harm Russia so much that “economically, it won’t get back on its feet for years,” and regarding Ukraine: “We’ll stand by you as long as you need us, no matter what my German voters think.”

Other countries do not want to be lectured by Germany

For Baerbock, “peace through strength” means military security, not human security, as repeatedly called for by the United Nations, particularly by the children’s charity UNICEF, the UNDP development programme, the World Food Programme (WFP) and, of course, by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
  There is no need to emphasise that the still Foreign Minister has caused considerable damage to Germany and Europe through her many trips, most of which have been unsuccessful in terms of international relations. The governments of countries such as India, China and Malaysia, as well as others, have confirmed to the German Foreign Minister during her visits that her attempts to lecture and her know-it-all attitude are not welcome.
  Why are we pointing this out? Because we do not understand why the outgoing German government favours Annalena Baerbock for the post of President of the UN General Assembly for 2025/26 instead of Helga Schmid, despite her inferior work. Annalena Baerbock has neither multilateral nor bilateral experience, while Helga Schmid, as former Secretary General of the OSCE and diplomat in leading positions in the Federal Foreign Office, has exactly the experience that is urgently needed in the United Nations.
  We believe that the new government should seriously consider how Germany can adequately fill the important position of President of the UN General Assembly in order to avoid further damage to our reputation in the world. And this at a time when many governments – especially in the non-Western world – and non-governmental organisations are campaigning for a more just and multilateral new order, as envisaged in the UN Covenant for the Future of the United Nations. •

https://www.zeit-fragen.ch/en/archives/2025/nr-8-1-april-2025/annalena-baerbock-als-un-diplomatin-will-deutschland-sich-international-weiter-schaden

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YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

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