Right-wing extremism - Attorney General takes action against "knockout" ruling
The judgment of the Jena Higher Regional Court in the "Knockout 51" case is not yet legally binding. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has filed a revision with the Federal Court of Justice regarding this decision, according to a spokesperson for the German Press Agency. The spokesperson did not provide further details about the reason for this revision. The written reasoning of the court, which is not yet available, is needed for that.
Sentencing for membership in a criminal organization
The Jena Higher Regional Court sentenced four Thuringians to prison terms on Monday: The State Security Chamber considered it proven that the men were members of "Knockout 51" and had also co-founded it. As members, they had reportedly committed various acts of violence and in some cases violated the Weapons Act. Three of the accused are supposed to serve two years and two months, two years and six months, and three years and ten months in prison, respectively. The fourth accused received a juvenile sentence of two years and six months.
Federal Prosecutor's Office sees "Knockout" as a terrorist organization
The Federal Prosecutor had demanded significantly higher sentences for the men. Their representatives had demanded sentences between four years and three months and seven years in prison for the accused. This demand was based on the assessment that "Knockout 51" was not only a criminal, but from a certain point in time also a terrorist organization. The court, however, did not follow this assessment.
In the Thuringian Constitutional Protection Report 2022, "Knockout 51" is described as "violence-prone, neo-Nazi organizations with anti-democratic goals."
- The revision at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office is in response to the "Knockout 51" case, where extremist men from Thuringia were sentenced for criminal acts.
- The Higher Regional Court in Jena found these men guilty of membership in a criminal organization and violations of the Weapons Act, but the Federal Prosecutor saw right-wing extremist group "Knockout 51" as both criminal and terrorist.
- The spokesperson for the German Press Agency mentioned that the court's written reasoning is crucial to understand the reasons behind the Federal Prosecutor's appeal, as the current judgment in the "Knockout 51" case is not legally binding yet.
- While sentencing housemates to prison terms ranging from two years and two months to three years and ten months, the Jena Higher Regional Court did not agree with the Federal Prosecutor's assessment of "Knockout 51" being a terrorist organization.
- According to the Thuringian Constitutional Protection Report 2022, "Knockout 51" is regarded as a violent, neo-Nazi organization with anti-democratic goals, contributing to the ongoing discourse and legal processes regarding extremism in Germany.
