A German court has acquitted a woman convicted of comparing Israel’s actions in Gaza with those of Nazi Germany, ruling that her posts constituted protected political expression.
The Zweibrucken Higher Regional Court overturned a €2,400 ($2,700) fine last week after it was imposed by a lower court over two Instagram posts published during the height of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
One post contained a table comparing Israel’s conduct with the methods of the Nazi regime. It appeared beneath a divided image of the Israeli and Nazi flags, with part of a swastika visible.
Another depicted Israeli soldiers firing into an enclosed area as blood flowed beneath its walls. A swastika appeared inside a Star of David. The woman accompanied the posts with the hashtags #FREEPALESTINE and #GAZAUNDERATTACK.
The court ruled that the images expressed condemnation of Israel’s actions rather than support for Nazi ideology. It said freedom of expression protected the use of banned symbols when the context clearly conveyed criticism, parody or rejection of Nazism.
This is a rare win for freedom in Germany but let’s not forget that they chose to legislate compelled speech laws in the first place. Outside of threats on life, or bodily harm, or destruction of property. You should not arrest people for saying “offensive” or “hateful” things. That law can and will be abused.
You should all remember that cops are not our friends. This applies to German cops as well, they are immune to consequence and they cannot be legally challenged. Do you really think these people should be given easier legal avenues to beating and arresting people who say things the government doesn’t like?
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