Baptist Preacher Convicted of Hate Speech Against LGBTQ+ Community

A Pforzheim court sentenced the preacher to a fine for inciting violence and undermining democratic values in a 2023 sermon.

The preacher from the Baptist Church 'Zuverlässiges Wort Pforzheim' was fined 150 daily rates of €40 for hate speech targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.
In a 2023 livestreamed sermon, the preacher called for state-sanctioned violence against homosexuals, which prosecutors argued constituted incitement to violence.
The defense claimed the preacher's statements were protected under religious freedom and that the video evidence lacked authenticity due to technical discrepancies.
The Baptist Church has been under surveillance by the German domestic intelligence agency since 2023 for promoting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and anti-democratic ideologies.
Authorities are investigating additional members of the church for similar allegations, with concerns over their broader online reach amplifying extremist messages.