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Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
German government rejects US report on poor human rights situation
Berlin/Washington: The German government has rejected a report by the US State Department that claims Germany has restricted freedom of expression. 'There is no censorship in Germany,' Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer stressed in Berlin on Wednesday. 'We have a very high level of freedom of expression in Germany, and we will continue to defend it in every form.' Jens Spahn, head of the conservative parliamentary group, also rejected the accusations from Washington, stating on Welt TV: 'Everyone can say what they think in Germany. This is a free country.' The US government's human rights reports are published annually and describe the situation in numerous countries. This year's report released on Tuesday said that the situation in Germany deteriorated in 2024, with claims of censorship due to internet platforms being required to delete hate messages. (DPA)
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Germany rejects US censorship claims in human rights report – DW – 08/13/2025
The report itself has been accused of political bias, with the US softening criticism of Israel and El Salvador. Germany rejected the report saying it has "a very high level of freedom of expression." Human rights, such as freedom of expression, are under threat in Germany and other European countries, according to the 2024 Human Rights Report by the US State Department. The report, which in former years has been seen as a reliable point of reference for global human rights advocacy, has been criticized by human rights groups as containing numerous omissions and mischaracterizations to fit the current US administration's political aims. The German government rejected the report. "There is no censorship in Germany," Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer said. "We have a very high level of freedom of expression in Germany, and we will continue to defend it in every form," he added. "The human rights situation in Germany worsened during the year," an executive summary of the report's Germany entry said. "Significant human rights issues included restrictions on freedom of expression and credible reports of crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism," the report said. The report stated, however, that the German government "took some credible steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed human rights abuses." The report follows on from comments made by US Vice President JD Vance in February, in which he accused Germany and other European allies of imposing restrictions on free speech and attempting to marginalize far-right parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD). His remarks have been described as "intrusive" by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The report devotes a much smaller section to Israel than it did last year and fails to mention the severe humanitarian crisis and death toll in the Gaza Strip amid Israel's ongoing offensive against the Palestininian militant group Hamas. El Salvador, which was described in the 2023 report under the Biden administration as having "significant human rights issues," also got off lightly in 2024. "There were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses," the 2024 report said about the Central American country, whose president, Nayib Bukele, is accused of overseeing unlawful and arbitrary killings, torture and harsh prison conditions. The Trump administration's relations with El Salvador have strengthened in recent months, with Washington using a high-security mega-prison in the country to house migrants it has deported under draconian new migration policies. Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine was referred to in the report mainly as the "Russia-Ukraine war," though it did say Russia's forces and officials were reported to have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and abuses in Ukraine. In contrast, countries such as South Africa and Brazil, with whose governments Trump has clashed, came in for severe criticism that was not contained in the 2023 report. The report was issued with a delay as officials appointed by US President Donald Trump altered an earlier draft to bring it into line with his administration's foreign policies and ideological slant. It was prepared after the department underwent a major revamp during which hundreds of people were dismissed, many from the agency's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which has a large role in writing the report. In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in an opinion piece that the bureau had become a nest of "left-wing activists" and pledged that the Trump administration would change its focus in favor of "Western values." "The report demonstrates what happens when political agendas take priority over the facts," said Josh Paul, a former State Department official and director of nongovernmental organization A New Policy. "The outcome is a much-abbreviated product that is more reflective of a Soviet propaganda release than of a democratic system," he told Reuters news agency. Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also criticized the report, saying the Trump administration had mischaracterized some records of abuses and omitted others to suit its political agenda. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, however, defended the report, saying it had been restructured to improve readability and to stop it from being a list of "politically biased demands and assertions."
Local Germany
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
German Chancellor warns of Russia threat in visit to NATO's eastern flank
The decision to build up a 5,000-strong armoured brigade in Lithuania over the coming years came in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "There is a threat to us all from Russia," Merz told reporters in the capital Vilnius. "We are protecting ourselves against this threat -- and that is why we are here today." The German deployment is aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression towards Lithuania and fellow Baltic countries Estonia and Latvia, former Soviet republics that have become NATO and EU members and fear they are increasingly in Moscow's crosshairs. While Germany has joined multinational military missions, including in Afghanistan and Mali, a pacifist tradition stemming from its dark World War II history meant Berlin was generally reluctant to do more. The establishment of a permanent brigade overseas is an unprecedented move for the Bundeswehr, as the German armed forces are known, in the post-war era. Merz, who became chancellor this month, will participate in a ceremony in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius that officially marks the formation of the heavy combat unit, the 45th tank brigade, also known as the "Lithuania Brigade". This will be an "important milestone on the path to the permanent stationing of a German brigade on NATO's eastern flank", deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said last week. The brigade, to consist of around 4,800 troops and 200 civilian Bundeswehr employees, will be gradually deployed over the coming years and should reach full operational capability by 2027. An advance party of around 400 Bundeswehr personnel are already in the country, according to the defence ministry. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hailed Merz's visit as a sign of Berlin's "commitment to strengthen the deterrence and defence of our country and the entire NATO eastern flank". Bigger role Merz, who has vowed to build up Europe's "strongest conventional army" by ramping up defence spending, will be keen to use the trip to highlight that Berlin is taking on a bigger role on the international stage amid dizzying political upheavals. Advertisement US President Donald Trump has heaped pressure on fellow NATO members to increase defence spending, sparked fears about American commitment to Europe, and caused shock with his overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he pushes for a Ukraine peace deal. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who joined Merz on the visit, said last month that the Lithuanian deployment "sends a strong message of solidarity and readiness". "Germany is stepping up," he added during events to mark the 70th anniversary of Germany joining the 32-member NATO military alliance. Lithuania, with a population of 2.8 million, borders both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Moscow's ally Belarus, and the German defence ministry considers it to be "the most endangered state on NATO's eastern flank". READ ALSO: What will Germany's new military service look like - and who will it include? Growing hostility There have been signs of Russia ramping up hostile activities, with Moscow frequently accused of using "hybrid warfare" tactics in the Baltic Sea. This month a Russian spy plane was spotted in Belarus apparently attempting to observe a multinational NATO military exercise in Lithuania, news outlet Der Spiegel reported. But Germany's troop deployment is not without its difficulties. Some question whether the Bundeswehr, suffering from personnel and equipment shortages after years of underfunding, is prepared for what the defence ministry describes as "one of the most complex and ambitious projects" in its history. Advertisement While Germany has been seeking to channel more funds to the military, new equipment will take years to order and produce. Meanwhile the Bundeswehr, which is aiming to boost its number of soldiers to 203,000 by 2031, has been struggling to recruit. Parliament in January passed a law aimed at making the military a more attractive career, including more flexible working arrangements and greater financial incentives.
France 24
22-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Merz to visit Lithuania as Germany helps bolster NATO's eastern flank
The decision to build up a 5,000-strong armoured brigade in Lithuania over the coming years came in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The deployment is aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression towards Lithuania and fellow Baltic countries Estonia and Latvia, former Soviet states that have become NATO and EU members and fear they are increasingly in Moscow's crosshairs. While Germany has joined multinational military missions, including in Afghanistan and Mali, a pacifist tradition stemming from its dark World War II history meant Berlin was generally reluctant to do more. The establishment of a permanent brigade overseas is thus an unprecedented move for the Bundeswehr, as the German armed forces are known, in the post-war era. Merz, who became chancellor this month, will participate in a ceremony in the capital Vilnius that officially marks the formation of the heavy combat unit, the 45th tank brigade, also known as the "Lithuania Brigade". This will be an "important milestone on the path to the permanent stationing of a German brigade on NATO's eastern flank," deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said last week. The brigade, to consist of around 4,800 troops and 200 civilian Bundeswehr employees, will be gradually deployed over the coming years and should reach full operational capability by 2027. An advance party of around 400 Bundeswehr personnel are already in the country, according to the defence ministry. Bigger role Merz, who has vowed to build up Europe's "strongest conventional army" by ramping up defence spending, will be keen to use the trip to highlight that Berlin is taking on a bigger role on the international stage amid dizzying political upheavals. US President Donald Trump has heaped pressure on fellow NATO members to increase defence spending, sparked fears about American commitment to Europe, and caused shock with his overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he pushes for a swift Ukraine peace deal. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who will join Merz on the visit, said last month that the Lithuanian deployment "sends a strong message of solidarity and readiness". "Germany is stepping up," he added during events to mark the 70th anniversary of Germany joining the 32-member NATO military alliance. Merz is also due to meet Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda during his visit, with shared concern about Russia likely to dominate talks. Lithuania, with a population of 2.8 million, borders both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Moscow's ally Belarus, and the German defence ministry considers it to be "the most endangered state on NATO's eastern flank". Growing hostility There have been signs of Russia ramping up hostile activities, with Moscow frequently accused of using "hybrid warfare" tactics in the Baltic Sea. Earlier this month a Russian spy plane was spotted in Belarus apparently attempting to observe a multinational NATO military exercise in Lithuania, news outlet Der Spiegel reported. But Germany's troop deployment is not without its difficulties. Some question whether the Bundeswehr, suffering from personnel and equipment shortages after years of underfunding, is prepared for what the defence ministry describes as "one of the most complex and ambitious projects" in its history. While Germany has been seeking to channel more funds to the military, new equipment will take years to order and produce. Meanwhile the Bundeswehr, which is aiming to boost its number of soldiers to 203,000 by 2031, has been struggling to recruit. Parliament in January passed a law aimed at making the military a more attractive career, including more flexible working arrangements and greater financial incentives.
