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I am obtusely aware that Germany has banned hate speech and imagery relating to Nazis yet remains a democracy with mostly free speech. Am I wrong? If no, how

I am obtusely aware that Germany has banned hate speech and imagery relating to Nazis yet remains a democracy with mostly free speech. Am I wrong? If no, how have they accomplished this?

tomp 6y ago
You’re wrong. Someone was criminally prosecuted because he insulted Erdogan. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37554167 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37554167 They eventually dropped he case, probably because of the public uproar, but to even consider such a criminal case definitely isn’t a hallmark of a “freedom of speech” society.
- nl 6y ago
  > Someone was criminally prosecuted because he insulted Erdogan. No they weren't. He was never prosecuted - an investigation was opened after a complaint by Erdogan and then dropped before charges were laid. From your own link: "Erdogan then filed a complaint alleging that he had been insult" and "The prosecutors in the western city of Mainz said they had not found sufficient evidence to continue the inquiry against Jan Boehmermann." Additionally: "Mrs Merkel added that the authorities would move to repeal the controversial and little-used Article 103 of the penal code, which concerns insults against foreign heads of state, by 2018." Which was done[1]. Seems a pretty good example of a functioning democracy. [1] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/cabinet-overturns-l%C3%A8se-majest%C3%A9-section-of-criminal-code-413376 https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/cabinet-overt...
chockablocker 6y ago
Germany has in the past prosecuted anti-fascists for using a strike-through of a swastica. There were some considerations for changing the law, but I don't recall what happened to it. https://www.dw.com/en/minister-wants-to-legalize-anti-nazi-swastikas/a-2191932 https://www.dw.com/en/minister-wants-to-legalize-anti-nazi-s...

I am obtusely aware that Germany has banned hate speech and imagery relating to Nazis yet remains a democracy with mostly free speech. Am I wrong? If no, how have they accomplished this?

tomp 6y ago

You’re wrong. Someone was criminally prosecuted because he insulted Erdogan. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37554167 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37554167 They eventually dropped he case, probably because of the public uproar, but to even consider such a criminal case definitely isn’t a hallmark of a “freedom of speech” society.

nl 6y ago
> Someone was criminally prosecuted because he insulted Erdogan. No they weren't. He was never prosecuted - an investigation was opened after a complaint by Erdogan and then dropped before charges were laid. From your own link: "Erdogan then filed a complaint alleging that he had been insult" and "The prosecutors in the western city of Mainz said they had not found sufficient evidence to continue the inquiry against Jan Boehmermann." Additionally: "Mrs Merkel added that the authorities would move to repeal the controversial and little-used Article 103 of the penal code, which concerns insults against foreign heads of state, by 2018." Which was done[1]. Seems a pretty good example of a functioning democracy. [1] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/cabinet-overturns-l%C3%A8se-majest%C3%A9-section-of-criminal-code-413376 https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/cabinet-overt...

chockablocker 6y ago

Germany has in the past prosecuted anti-fascists for using a strike-through of a swastica. There were some considerations for changing the law, but I don't recall what happened to it. https://www.dw.com/en/minister-wants-to-legalize-anti-nazi-swastikas/a-2191932 https://www.dw.com/en/minister-wants-to-legalize-anti-nazi-s...