The District Court in Halle has convicted AfD politician Björn Höcke for using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, ordering him to pay a fine of 100 daily rates of 130 euros each, totaling 13,000 euros. The court found that in May 2021, Höcke used the banned slogan “Alles für Deutschland” from the SA (Sturmabteilung) of the NSDAP at a rally in Merseburg. This constituted the use of unconstitutional and terrorist organization symbols under paragraph 86a of the Criminal Code. The verdict is not yet final, and a revision is possible within a week. The public prosecutor announced that they would review the ruling.
If the judgment becomes final, Höcke will be considered to have a criminal record. According to the Federal Central Register Act, only fines of less than 90 daily rates are not included in the certificate of good conduct. Judge Jan Stengel described Höcke as an “intelligent man” and stated that the court was convinced that Höcke knew the SA slogan was banned but still used it. The prosecutor had demanded a six-month suspended prison sentence as a necessary measure to influence the defendant, citing Höcke’s post-offense behavior. The prosecutor also asked for a 10,000 euro donation to a charitable organization, such as an NS memorial or a program for former right-wing extremists.
Höcke denied the allegations in court, claiming he was unaware of the origin of the slogan. The prosecutor argued that Höcke acted deliberately by reviving a forgotten slogan and making it socially acceptable, citing his extensive use of Nazi vocabulary in various instances. Höcke’s defense called for an acquittal, stating that the slogan had been forgotten, and it was the prosecutor who brought it to people’s attention. They also questioned the definitive association of the slogan with the SA. During the trial, Höcke accused the prosecutor of lacking neutrality and criticized the restrictions on freedom of speech in Germany.
The court session also included the presentation of evidence, including videos from a WELT TV debate where Höcke defended his use of the SA slogan as a common phrase. Another video showed Höcke using the slogan in Gera, Thuringia, where he had the audience shout out the final word. Höcke is facing further charges of incitement to hatred in a separate case at the Landgericht Mühlhausen in Thuringia. The trial for the Gera incident will take place at the Halle District Court, with no scheduled dates yet.
The judge warned Höcke to focus on the case and not turn his defense into a campaign speech. The verdict is yet to be finalized, and the possibility of an appeal remains open. The case has sparked debate over freedom of speech and the boundaries of political discourse in Germany, highlighting the ongoing tensions between right-wing politicians and legal frameworks aimed at preventing a resurgence of extremist ideologies.
