Hate comments against politicians: searches

Created: 03/22/2022Updated: 03/22/2022 11:19 am

Blue lights shine on the roof of a police vehicle.

© Carsten Rehder/dpa/symbol image

The Internet does not offer total anonymity.

And hateful insults against politicians can be punishable by law.

These facts probably became clear to many commentators on Internet forums when the police rang in the early morning.

Berlin - With searches throughout Germany, the police took action against authors of hate comments aimed at politicians.

Eight apartments were searched in Berlin on Tuesday morning, the police said.

Seven men aged 20 to 65 and a 42-year-old woman are accused of having published relevant texts in chat groups and social networks over the past two years.

The police confiscated computers and cell phones to secure evidence.

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) spoke of a nationwide day of action against hate speech aimed at politicians.

At the same time, the homes of around 100 suspects were searched in 13 federal states.

It is about insults to well-known politicians from all major parties, often in connection with the federal elections.

In addition, many comments contained false reports and incorrect quotations "which appear suitable for defaming and discrediting those affected".

Two-thirds of the insulted politicians were women.

The BKA had initiated the investigation and then handed it over to the responsible public prosecutor's office.

The basis for the investigations is paragraph 188 of the Criminal Code, which was revised in spring 2021 and criminalizes the insult and defamation of politicians particularly severely.

In addition to the searches, the Berlin police also specifically addressed two men aged 76 and 77 in Charlottenburg and Wannsee to warn them against further activities.

These men are also suspected of having uploaded insulting comments on the Internet.

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The state security service in the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) is investigating the suspects in Berlin for using signs of unconstitutional organizations, hate speech, incitement to commit crimes and insults and defamation of public figures.

The apartments searched were in the districts of Rosenthal, Alt-Hohenschönhausen, Marzahn, Hellersdorf, Neukölln, Gesundbrunnen, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedenau.

dpa