Incitement to hatred - Court must decide on punishment against Baptists
In the course of investigations against the "Baptist Church Reliable Word Pforzheim" (BKZW), monitored by the Constitutional Protection Agency, this local court must decide on a penalty order. The Public Prosecutor's Office Karlsruhe has reportedly requested that a suspect be sentenced to a fine of 120 days' wages of 80 Euro each for incitement to hatred - this would mean the person is already convicted. A legally binding decision by the court is still pending. No information was initially available on when this could be expected.
In another investigation, the Public Prosecutor accuses another suspect of incitement to hatred in several cases and incitement to commit crimes. The church rooms in Pforzheim and a private residence in Leipzig were searched in January of this year. The investigations are ongoing.
Disparagement of Homosexuals and Anti-Democratic Attitudes
The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution lists the BKZW as an observation object in the "Constitutional Protection Relevant Delegitimization of the State" phenomenon area since May 2023. It is mainly active in Pforzheim, according to the Constitutional Protection Report. "Regular sermons are held there and made available on the internet." The sermons take place either on site or via video transmission from the US federal state of Arizona, where the main responsible persons are located. In addition, missionary events are held in Pforzheim, which the BKZW calls "soul gains."
According to the Constitutional Protection Report, the ideological focus of the BKZW lies in the massive disparagement of Homosexuals, which is openly preached in publicly accessible speeches. "In parts of the sermons, hate-inciting statements are made, which primarily target human dignity. The often drastic speech of the preachers underscores the harshness of the content."
Moreover, the BKZW fundamentally rejects democratic will-formation and decision-making. The main responsible person expresses this clearly in his podcast titled "Democracy is stupid and unbiblical." In particular, he rejects the idea that every person has the opportunity to get politically involved - "if the majority has the say, then infidels have the say." The BKZW calls into question decisions made by democratically legitimized persons and delegitimizes state action. In some sermons, antisemitic and conspiracy-theory elements are also present.
- The "Baptist Church Reliable Word Pforzheim" (BKZW) is currently under investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe, due to allegations of incitement to hatred and hatred towards Homosexuals.
- The Constitution (law) of Germany, which upholds democracy, protects the rights and dignity of all its citizens, and prohibits incitement to hatred, is being tested in this case.
- The Local Court in Germany will deliberate on a penalty order for the BKZB, as per a request from the Karlsruhe public prosecutor's office, regarding an individual already convicted of inciting hatred.
- The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Baden-Württemberg has labeled the BKZW as an observation object due to its activities and vocal opposition to democracy and human dignity.
- The incitement to hatred and rejection of democratic decision-making by the BKZW has raised concerns, as it poses a potential threat to the peaceful coexistence and constitutional order in Pforzheim and beyond.
