AfD politician Björn Höcke fined for using SA slogan - €13,000 in legal expenses.
The punishment was about to come. The leader of Thuringia's AfD, Björn Höcke, was found guilty for using a banned SA slogan. The public prosecutor's office had asked for a probation, but in his closing statement, Höcke expressed his worries about limited freedom of speech and was reprimanded.
During a trial against AfD politician Björn Höcke for displaying symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, the regional court in Halle imposed a fine. The 52-year-old man was ordered to pay 100 days of €130 each, totaling €13,000. He had denied the allegations throughout the trial that lasted several days. The verdict is not yet final, and he may appeal within a week. If the verdict holds, Höcke will have a criminal record. He might also face a similar case in the future.
In a speech held in Merseburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Höcke ended by saying "Everything for our homeland, everything for Saxony-Anhalt, everything for Germany." The last part of the triad is a forbidden slogan. The Halle prosecutor's office accused Höcke of being aware of the slogan's origin and meaning. The court led by Judge Jan Stengel concluded that Höcke knew of the slogan's origin.
Judge: Höcke is well-informed
Judge Stengel described Höcke as an "articulate, intelligent man" who studied history and is well-informed. He also endorsed the distribution of Höcke's speech at the election campaign event. Höcke's political position as the AfD's parliamentary group leader in the Thuringian state parliament further contributed to his conviction.
Stengel mentioned that other AfD politicians had faced legal consequences for using the slogan "Alles für Deutschland" on election posters in the past. The court believes Höcke was within the loop of this information. "We have the impression that the cloak of freedom of expression is being strained," said Stengel, reflecting on Höcke and his defense lawyers, who cited freedom of speech, among other things.
The public prosecutor's office had earlier demanded a suspended prison sentence of six months. They stated that Höcke couldn't possibly not know that the slogan "Alles für Deutschland" references the Nazi era. Höcke should also pay €10,000, preferably to humanitarian organizations.
Höcke's lawyers sought a not guilty verdict in their extensive arguments. Lawyer Philip Müller stated that there was no reference to the Nazi period during the Merseburg event. There was also no evidence of the slogan being used with premeditation. The court originally announced an expected fine, and that is what transpired.
Höcke addresses prosecutors, sees himself as persecuted
In his closing statement, Höcke confronted the public prosecutor's office. "It seems you did not have the blindfold of justice on your eyes today, Mr. Public Prosecutor," Höcke said to the prosecutor. "You did not seek out any exonerating moments." Höcke perceived the prosecutors' argument as that of an "angry political activist." He portrayed himself as a "politically outlawed person." He considered the slogan he used as "banal." Höcke claimed his innocence and said he had a clear conscience. The judge reminded Höcke that he should stick to the issue and not make an election campaign speech.
The Thuringian AfD is categorized as a right-wing extremist party by the Thuringian Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and Höcke is their state leader. The Thuringian AfD leader intends to run as the party's top candidate in the state elections in Thuringia on September 1.
Höcke, originally from North Rhine-Westphalia, will face trial on other accusations: At the Mühlhausen district court in Thuringia, there was an indictment against him for inciting the people. The trial dates are not yet set. In another appearance in Gera, he used the slogan during a regular's table, but he didn't state the third word himself, instead making the crowd yell it. The charges about the Merseburg speech and the investigations were previously the talk of the town but didn't form part of the current trial in Halle. However, this is still pending. No dates have been set yet for this event either.
Höcke's political journey has encountered considerable resistance as he continues to trumpet the slogan.
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In response to the ruling, the AfD's parliamentary group leader in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, indicated his intention to appeal the decision within a week. Despite this, the fine of €13,000 stands, including court costs, for using a Nazi-era slogan during a public event. Additionally, the AfD party and its leaders, including Höcke, have a history of using similar controversial language, attracting criticism from various processes and legal branches.
Source: www.ntv.de
