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Katrin Goering-Eckardt
Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
Politicians are becoming the victims of hostilities online more and more frequently.
But these hate comments rarely lead to a final conviction.
In the case of a Facebook comment about Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt, a 58-year-old has now been found guilty.
According to a report by the RND, the district court in Bernkastel-Kues (Rhineland-Palatinate) sentenced the man to seven months' imprisonment on probation for defamation and insults to the then Greens parliamentary group leaders.
He must also bear the legal costs.
The 58-year-old attributed a wrong quote to Göring-Eckardt on Facebook on December 30, 2020.
Accordingly, she is said to have said with regard to sexual assaults at a folk festival in Schorndorf (Baden-Württemberg) in 2017: “The sexual assaults in Schorndorf can by no means be excused, but they show a cry for help from the refugees because they received too little from German women are respected in their feelings.«
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The falsity of the quote can be easily checked by researching the Internet.
Other Facebook users who testified at the trial advised the man that the quote was incorrect.
But he still didn't delete it.
Instead, the man wrote on Facebook, based on the false quote: "Dear Kathrin, spread your legs... Such a statement is disgusting..." He also provided the post with emoji symbols such as "praying hands" and "bloody knife «.
Convict claims to have fallen for it himself
The convict claimed to have "fallen for something" himself with the fake quote. The phrase "spread your legs" was not meant to be sexist. After all, he had to spread his legs when he was in the police force or in sports. As a result, the court ruled: "The accused is guilty of defamation against persons in political life in conjunction with an insult." After the sentence was suspended due to a lack of previous convictions, the perpetrator is now considered to have previously been convicted.
A spokesman for Göring-Eckardt told the RND: “The office consistently reports hatred and hate speech.
We welcome the verdict as a deterrent.
Anyone who spreads made-up quotes against their better judgment wants to defame and has no interest in an honest discourse.
Especially not who insults.” He continued: “Hate and insults are not opinions.
Democratic values must apply everywhere, including in the digital space.«
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