High penalties for inflammatory insults: Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht wants to criminalize discriminatory language.
Berlin – As early as this Wednesday, May 12th, it could be a done deal: Discriminatory language should be made a criminal offense. The decision was initiated by Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD). Anyone who offends people on the basis of their origin, religion or sexuality could soon face high penalties.
| Houses of Parliament: | German Bundestag |
| Founding: | September 7, 1949, Bundeshaus, Bonn |
| Seat: | Reichstag building, Berlin |
| MPs: | 709 |
Hateful insults: There is a risk of imprisonment of up to two years
It is not just the heated debates about correct gendering that prove it: the language is changing. After Katharina Fegebank recently called for the introduction of gender language in Hamburg’s authorities, politics is now going one step further. All insults that defame a religion or origin should be consistently punished.
This also includes insults against people with disabilities or another political worldview. Anyone who is still of the opinion that they can do without a decent linguistic interaction faces fines and even imprisonment of up to two years. Above all, hatred and agitation against politicians * forced the Bundestag to act.
More criminal liability for “lists of enemies”: Bundestag defends itself against hatred and agitation on the Internet
On February 1, 2021, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) presented a new draft law. The aim at this point was to readjust the penal code. Punishments for violating human dignity or defamation should be formulated more precisely.
The Bundestag would like to take action against the so-called “enemy lists” * which contain insults or threats. The Bundestag understands the term “enemy lists” to be collections of data, photos and comments that represent an express or at least subtle threat. Most of these come from the Internet and often attack institutions or politicians.
For this reason, Renate Künast has long been calling for a fundamental judgment against Facebook * in order to get to the bottom of illegal statements. But “even individuals can be affected by such data publication”, the Bundestag is quoted on their website. The penalties that have now been worked out, which are based primarily on digital agitation on the Internet, are to be included in the draft law and are already being scrutinized today.
New draft law against hatred and agitation creates more transparency
Politicians create an uncompromising legal situation that leaves the courts less doubtful. Previously, lawyers were often powerless to deal with offensive language. Judges saw themselves called upon to intervene only in the event of public incitement to hatred that was also “capable of disturbing the public peace”. If the draft law is passed today, there will also be more clarity for lawyers. * 24hamburg.de, nordbuzz.de, Kreiszeitung.de, tz.de, merkur.de are offers from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubric lists: © Kay Nietfeld / dpa
