German Court Acquits CDU Politician of Hate Speech Charges Over Controversial Social Media Post

Detlef Gürth was cleared of incitement charges after a judge ruled his post, though morally objectionable, did not violate laws protecting human dignity.

• Detlef Gürth, a CDU politician and former president of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, was accused of hate speech for a post on the platform X following a violent attack in 2024.
• In his post, Gürth referred to certain individuals as 'this pack' and suggested they should leave Germany, prompting accusations of inciting hatred against Afghan nationals.
• The court ruled that while the post was morally reprehensible, it did not constitute a violation of human dignity or an incitement to violence, leading to Gürth's acquittal.
• The prosecution argued the post was an attack on the dignity of Afghan residents in Germany and initially sought a fine of €18,000, which Gürth contested, leading to the trial.
• Gürth expressed regret for his phrasing and stated he did not intend to target a specific group, emphasizing his commitment to integration and denouncing extremist interpretations of his words.

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