Overview

• On June 24, 2025, the Federal Administrative Court fully overturned the July 2024 ban on Compact magazine after suspending it last August.
• Presiding Judge Ingo Kraft held that the constitution protects press freedom “even for the enemies of freedom” and Compact’s output was not proven to be formative in extremist activities.
• Compact, edited by Jürgen Elsässer, reaches about 40,000 print subscribers and operates an online video channel despite intelligence reports of its anti-Semitic, anti-minority and conspiracy theory content.
• Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt acknowledged the verdict and said his ministry would carefully evaluate the ruling before deciding on any further legal action.
• Legal analysts say the decision sets a stringent precedent for future bans on extremist groups and may influence ongoing efforts to challenge the AfD’s classification as extremist.