Latest news with #JürgenElsässer
Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
German court lifts ban on ‘mouthpiece for right-wing extremists'
The German government's ban on a far-right magazine described as the 'central mouthpiece' of extremists has been overturned. Founded in 2010 and edited by Jürgen Elsässer, Compact magazine had considerable reach beyond the hard-right bubble. It claimed a print circulation of 40,000 a month and millions of views online. The magazine was officially classified as an 'extremist organisation' by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, in 2021. Among the conspiracy theories that it promotes is the concept of 're-migration', a dog whistle for deporting ethnic-minority Germans. The magazine promotes conspiracy theories SEAN GALLUP/GETTY IMAGES Nancy Faeser took the step to ban the magazine last year when she was interior minister . She labelled Compact a 'central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene' — citing its antisemitic, racist and anti-democratic content. A federal administrative court in Leipzig then suspended Faeser's ban, pending a final ruling on Compact's appeal, which was issued on Tuesday, declaring that even inflammatory speech remains protected under the country's laws. The presiding judge, Ingo Kraft, concluded that Compact's output, while polemic and sharply worded, did not cross the threshold into active hostility against the democratic order. 'The basic law guarantees freedom of opinion and the press even for enemies of freedom,' Kraft said. Nancy Faeser ordered a ban on the magazine's publisher last year MAXIMILIAN SCHWARZ/REUTERS Germany's basic law provides MPs with the means to crack down on parties and speech like Holocaust denial that are deemed unconstitutional — a learning from its fascist past. However, there are no provisions allowing the ban of publications. The interior ministry had resorted to banning the organisation that publishes Compact. The court said, however, that this violated the proportionality requirements as subversive activities were not central to its mission. Even sharp critiques of migration policy and revisionist takes on history must be tolerated in a pluralistic democracy, the court argued. The ruling comes as a blow to proponents of a crackdown on extremism, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to become Germany's second-largest party. In 2021, Germany's government had tightened laws punishing abuse against politicians. In one such case a journalist at a far-right magazine was convicted for sharing a manipulated image of Faeser showing her holding a fake sign with the words 'I hate freedom of opinion'. • What is AfD? The reasons behind rise of the hard right in Germany Elsässer celebrated the Compact ruling, and predicted that, if Compact could not be banned, then it would be impossible to ban the AfD. The Social Democrats, the junior partner in Germany's coalition government, announced on Monday that they would push to start proceedings on banning the AfD, which was also recently labelled 'extremist' by the Verfassungsschutz. Alexander Dobrindt, the current interior minister, said the government would respect and review the ruling, but added that 'banning organisations remains an applicable and possible tool against extremist endeavours'.
9 hours ago
- Politics
A German court lifts a government ban on a far-right magazine
BERLIN -- A German court on Tuesday lifted a ban imposed by the government last year on a far-right magazine, ruling that the case against it didn't clear the high bar required to outlaw its publisher. Germany's previous government banned Compact magazine and the company that publishes it, Compact-Magazin GmbH, in July. Then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described Compact as 'a central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene,' and said that it 'agitates in an unspeakable way against Jews, against people with a history of migration and against our parliamentary democracy.' Compact appealed to the Federal Administrative Court, which suspended the ban in August pending a full consideration of the case. Following a hearing earlier this month, the court lifted the ban altogether on Tuesday. The court said in a statement that Germany's constitution guarantees freedom of the press and opinion 'even for the enemies of freedom' and that, on grounds of proportionality, a ban could only be justified if the publisher's anti-constitutional activities were proven to be 'formative' for the group. It said a review of the evidence showed that the material in question didn't reach that threshold. Compact is run by far-right figure Jürgen Elsässer, and produces the monthly magazine of the same name, which has a circulation of about 40,000, as well as an online video channel, Compact TV. It also runs an online shop selling books, CDs, DVDs and other merchandise. Compact has been published since 2010. In its annual report for 2023, Germany's domestic intelligence agency said that it 'regularly disseminates ... antisemitic, anti-minority, historically revisionist and conspiracy theory content.'
Euronews
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
German court reverses ban on far-right Compact magazine
A German court has overturned a ban on a far-right magazine introduced last year by the previous government, finding it to be unlawful. The ruling on Tuesday found that the case against Compact magazine and its publisher, Compact-Magazin GmbH, did not meet the threshold to warrant its proscription. The then Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said at the time that the government was taking the action on the grounds that Compact "is a central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene." "This magazine incites hatred against Jews, people with a history of migration and our parliamentary democracy in an unspeakable manner," she said in a statement. "Our message is very clear: We will not allow ethnicity to define who belongs to Germany and who does not. Our constitutional state protects all those who are persecuted because of their faith, their origins, their skin colour, or even their democratic stance." But its prohibition was suspended a month later, after the company appealed to the Federal Administrative Court which paused the action pending a full review of the case. The court said in a statement that Germany's constitution enshrines the value freedom of the press and freedom of expression "even for the enemies of freedom" and that a ban would only be proportional if the publisher's anti-constitutional activities were proven to be "formative" for the group. It said a review of the evidence found that the material in question did not reach that bar. At the time of the ban, German media reported that police were conducting searches in several states as they aimed to confiscate assets and collect evidence. Prior to the attempts to ban it, the magazine had been classified as extremist, nationalist and anti-minority by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in 2021, but remained widely available. Compact magazine, which has a circulation of about 40,000 and has been published since 2010, is edited by far-right figure Jürgen Elsässer, though its online following is significantly higher. Elsässer, who is a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, called the ban an "attack on press freedom" at the time. The development is the latest boon for Germany's far right and comes after its domestic intelligence agency last month suspended the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's "extremist classification," days after it said it was designated as such after the party filed a lawsuit. Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution then said it would await a court ruling before moving forward with plans to impose the designation, which could see the party subjected to heightened surveillance and scrutiny of its activities. The far-right party came second in Germany's snap federal election in February, securing 20.8% of the vote and doubling its share from the last election in 2021. It was the best result for a far-right party in Germany since World War II.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
A German court lifts a government ban on a far-right magazine
Jürgen Elsässer, editor-in-chief of Compact, and his wife Stephanie Elsässer, arrive at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday June 24, 2025. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP) BERLIN — A German court on Tuesday lifted a ban imposed by the government last year on a far-right magazine, ruling that the case against it didn't clear the high bar required to outlaw its publisher. Germany's previous government banned Compact magazine and the company that publishes it, Compact-Magazin GmbH, in July. Then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described Compact as 'a central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene,' and said that it 'agitates in an unspeakable way against Jews, against people with a history of migration and against our parliamentary democracy.' Compact appealed to the Federal Administrative Court, which suspended the ban in August pending a full consideration of the case. Following a hearing earlier this month, the court lifted the ban altogether on Tuesday. The court said in a statement that Germany's constitution guarantees freedom of the press and opinion 'even for the enemies of freedom' and that, on grounds of proportionality, a ban could only be justified if the publisher's anti-constitutional activities were proven to be 'formative' for the group. It said a review of the evidence showed that the material in question didn't reach that threshold. Compact is run by far-right figure Jürgen Elsässer, and produces the monthly magazine of the same name, which has a circulation of about 40,000, as well as an online video channel, Compact TV. It also runs an online shop selling books, CDs, DVDs and other merchandise. Compact has been published since 2010. In its annual report for 2023, Germany's domestic intelligence agency said that it 'regularly disseminates ... antisemitic, anti-minority, historically revisionist and conspiracy theory content.' The strength of the far right has caused increasing concern in Germany in recent years.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
A German court lifts a government ban on a far-right magazine
BERLIN (AP) — A German court on Tuesday lifted a ban imposed by the government last year on a far-right magazine, ruling that the case against it didn't clear the high bar required to outlaw its publisher. Germany's previous government banned Compact magazine and the company that publishes it, Compact-Magazin GmbH, in July. Then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described Compact as 'a central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene,' and said that it 'agitates in an unspeakable way against Jews, against people with a history of migration and against our parliamentary democracy.' Compact appealed to the Federal Administrative Court, which suspended the ban in August pending a full consideration of the case. Following a hearing earlier this month, the court lifted the ban altogether on Tuesday. The court said in a statement that Germany's constitution guarantees freedom of the press and opinion 'even for the enemies of freedom' and that, on grounds of proportionality, a ban could only be justified if the publisher's anti-constitutional activities were proven to be 'formative' for the group. It said a review of the evidence showed that the material in question didn't reach that threshold. Compact is run by far-right figure Jürgen Elsässer, and produces the monthly magazine of the same name, which has a circulation of about 40,000, as well as an online video channel, Compact TV. It also runs an online shop selling books, CDs, DVDs and other merchandise. Compact has been published since 2010. In its annual report for 2023, Germany's domestic intelligence agency said that it 'regularly disseminates ... antisemitic, anti-minority, historically revisionist and conspiracy theory content.' The strength of the far right has caused increasing concern in Germany in recent years.
