News consumers cannot distinguish between facts and satire—this was, in essence, the justification by a German court for sentencing a right-wing journalist to seven months’ probation.
As we previously reported, David Bendels, the editor-in-chief of the news website Deutschland-Kurier, was punished for sharing a satirical meme on his X account.
The meme, which was posted by Bendels last February, shows social democrat Interior Minister Nancy Faeser holding up a sign, with the words: “I hate freedom of expression.”
Haftstrafe für eine Satire über Innenministerin Faeser: Nun liegt die Begründung für das Urteil gegen den Journalisten David Bendels vor. Einziger Beweis für dessen „Täterschaft“ ist demnach ein Artikel der JUNGEN FREIHEIT. https://t.co/1mkmpnbFbF
— JUNGE FREIHEIT (@Junge_Freiheit) April 30, 2025
The original photo of Faeser showed her with the words on the sign saying “We Remember” on the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Turning the image into a satirical meme was a shot at Faeser and the outgoing left-wing government, which has done everything to repress free speech and silence conservative voices.
But, according to the court’s seven-page ruling, which was revealed in its entirety by German media on Wednesday, April 30th, news consumers and users of social media could not tell whether Bendels’ post was satire or not—even though it is glaringly obvious.
The journalist, therefore, according to the court, committed an act of defamation by deliberately making something untrue seem true.
The court ruling in itself is a sad reflection of the state of affairs in Germany.
Faeser had brought the lawsuit against Bendels under a law introduced by the previous Angela Merkel-led German government, which allows politicians to file a criminal complaint if they believe that they have been the target of defamatory comments in relation to their official duties.
Reacting to the latest revelations, David Bendels said he will continue “the fight for the freedom of the press and freedom of opinion.”
„Die schriftliche Urteilsbegründung des Bamberger Amtsrichters Martin Waschner kommentiert sich selbst.
Der Deutschland-Kurier und ich persönlich werden den elementaren Kampf für die Presse- und Meinungsfreiheit in der nächsten Instanz unbeirrt, stabil und konsequent… pic.twitter.com/LoDIdcx9jT
— Deutschland Kurier (@Deu_Kurier) April 30, 2025
