German police report increase in slander against politicians

Law enforcement agencies in Germany have observed a notable increase in incidents involving insults, slander, and defamation aimed at public officials, according to recent data. A representative from the Federal Criminal Police Office shared with Welt am Sonntag on Saturday that last year, 4,439 offenses of this nature were documented.

For comparison, 2023 saw 2,598 such cases, while in 2022 the figure was 1,404, indicating a sharp upward trend over the past year.

Under Section 188 of the German Criminal Code, politicians are legally shielded from attacks on their reputation, with violations carrying the possibility of fines or imprisonment. Recently, the far-right Alternative for Germany party in the Bundestag called for the removal of this legal provision, which was established in its current version in 2021.

Author: Sophia Brooks