Overview
- Hamburg’s interior authority withdrew its application for an injunction seeking to bar Left MP Deniz Celik’s criticism of the Verfassungsschutz after the Landgericht indicated his wording was a protected value judgment.
- The case stemmed from an October press release in which Celik accused the intelligence service of cover‑ups, informant scandals, and repeatedly protecting right‑wing networks.
- Officials maintained the criticism was factually wrong, stating that combating right‑wing extremism is central to the agency’s mission, yet they said they would not pursue the matter further out of respect for the court’s assessment.
- The Left party called the retreat a humiliation and an attempted gag on critics, while allied unions and civic groups framed the outcome as a win for free political expression.
- The confrontation unfolded alongside debate over introducing routine Verfassungsschutz checks for public‑sector applicants in Hamburg, with reporting noting case law that sharply limits civil remedies for public agencies facing derogatory speech.