X Posts Case: Charges Against AfD Lawmaker Behrendt Admitted Only in Part
Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
Newswire
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In the courts
- The Braunschweig Regional Court admitted charges against AfD lawmaker Vanessa Behrendt in five of seven alleged offenses linked to posts on X between August 2024 and February 2025.
- The court said four cases could amount to insult and one to the dangerous dissemination of personal data, but rejected an allegation of incitement to hatred in those cases.
- The case is expected to be heard by the Helmstedt Local Court, while an immediate appeal against the decision remains possible.
AfD lawmaker Vanessa Behrendt will face court, but not on all seven allegations brought by prosecutors over posts on X. The Braunschweig Regional Court admitted the charges only in part.
The Göttingen public prosecutor’s office had accused Behrendt of incitement to hatred and insult over posts published between August 2024 and February 2025. The court rejected the opening of proceedings on two of the seven alleged offenses, saying its legal assessment differed from that of the prosecution.
In four cases, the judges found sufficient grounds to suspect insult. They did not, however, find that the posts amounted to incitement to hatred, including because they said there had been no attack on human dignity. In another case, the court found sufficient suspicion that Behrendt had dangerously disseminated personal data.
On the one hand, I am grateful for the clarification by the Regional Court.
The Lower Saxony state parliament lifted Behrendt’s immunity in November in connection with the allegations. She rejects the accusations. “On the one hand, I am grateful for the clarification by the Regional Court,” she said in response to an inquiry. “On the other hand, I am firmly determined to fight for the right to freedom of expression on the remaining points.”
The prosecution can file an immediate complaint against the Braunschweig decision. The trial is expected to take place before the Helmstedt Local Court.
On the other hand, I am firmly determined to fight for the right to freedom of expression on the remaining points.
About this summary
Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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