Roofer's Apprentice Ad in Saxony - Not Considered Hate Speech: A Keep it Real Perspective
Authorities argue that the Azubi advertisement does not constitute sedition, but rather poor taste.
In an unconventional turn of events, a Saxon roofer's announcement for a potential apprentice in an official gazette has sparked a wave of discussion but was ultimately disregarded by the Dresden public prosecutor's office as lacking criminal significance.
The statement released by the Saxon authorities left nothing to the imagination: "The content of the advertisement, although questionable and morally objectionable, lacks relevance in criminal law." The freedom of opinion applies in this corner of the ad, the authorities claimed.
The advertisement, placed in the municipal gazette of the Saxon Switzerland in April, was arguably a blatant display of tastelessness. The job hunter was warned: "no hook noses, bimbos, or zeppelin carriers," on the application form.
In a move that can be seen as somewhat tricky, the prosecutor's office clarified that the terms used in the ad do not unequivocally refer to specific racial, ethnic, or religious groups. Moreover, the ad did not expressly call for violence or arbitrariness against certain groups. Additionally, no group's right to life as an equal, valued individual in the state community was infringed upon via the ad.
The city of Sebnitz, the publisher of the official gazette, and the Chamber of Crafts in Dresden all showed unpleasant reactions to the ad and disavowed its content at the time. The craftsman, for his part, defended his words, even if they verged on the unrefined. He claimed, "Maybe I went a bit overboard, but Germany's political climate pressures me into it."
The Lowdown After Racist Apprentice Search, Sebnitzer Roofer Backtrashes Excuses The roofer's explanation didn't exactly win heartfelt sympathies, but legally speaking, he may have a point. In Germany, hate speech typically involves inciting hatred or violence against protected groups based on their race, ethnicity, or religion, among other factors. If the announcement lacked these attributes and simply reeked of obscenity rather than actively promoting hostility, it might not constitute hate speech.
Source: ntv.de, lme
- Racism
- Saxony
- Free Speech
- Political Climate
Extra Insight: While specific details regarding the legal reasoning behind the prosecutor's office's decision are not publicly available, generally speaking, hate speech in Germany requires the incitement of hatred or violence against certain groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, and more. If an advertisement contains derogatory language but does not meet these criteria or is considered merely as offensive, it may not legally qualify as hate speech.
- Despite the backlash, the roofer in Saxony's employment policy, as stated in his controversial apprentice search, might not be considered hate speech under German law, given that it lacked the elements of inciting hatred or violence against specific groups.
- The ongoing discussion surrounding the roofer's job advertisement in Saxony, despite its offensive nature, underscores the complexities of free speech within the broader context of politics, community policy, general-news, and crime-and-justice.
