Unbanned: The Persistent Far-Right Magazine "Compact" Makes a Comeback
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Extremist publication 'Compact' granted continuance in print. - Extremist Publication "Compact" Potentially Persists in circulation
In a controversial decision, Compact magazine, notorious for its far-right content, has been given the green light to continue publication. The court found that while the magazine contained texts targeting human dignity, the unconstitutional statements and activities were not severe enough to justify a ban.
The magazine's publication of conspiracy theories and controversial views have been defended under the banner of freedom of speech and press. Judge Ingo Kraft, while announcing the verdict, stated that many passages in favor of the ban could be viewed as "exaggerated but permissible criticism" of migration policy.
Ideas championed by Austrian far-right extremist Martin Sellner, which Compact has been promoting for years without any significant distance, have been found to be discriminatory, treating German citizens with a migration background as second-class citizens.
Compact has sustained its publication since August 2024, when the court suspended the enforcement of the ban. The group around activist Jürgen Elsässer, his wife Stephanie, and several employees functions more than just a press and media company. It operates as an association with a long-term goal and a common agenda. They have submitted to Elsässer's "strict will formation."
The verdict has sparked mixed reactions. Alexander Dobrindt, Minister of the Interior, stated that his ministry would "carefully evaluate" the ruling, maintaining that association bans remain a viable means against extremist endeavors. Elsässer, on the other hand, celebrated the decision by declaring, "We are the stormtroopers of democracy."
The Left faction in the Bundestag, led by Clara Bünger, criticized the court ruling, calling Compact a "central actor of the far right." The German Journalists' Association and the German Federation of Journalists, however, praised the decision as a confirmation of the importance of press freedom.
Compact, based in Stoßen, Saxony-Anhalt, claims a circulation of 40,000 copies, and its YouTube channel boasts about 515,000 subscribers. The publication has been classified as far-right extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
- Compact
- Jürgen Elsässer
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Journalism Freedom
- Far-right Extremism
- Martin Sellner
- Political Resistance
- German Federal Administrative Court
- Civil Liberties
- The Left Faction
- German Journalists' Association
[1] Far-right magazine Compact in Germany under investigation for extremism (BBC, 2021): [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58790839][2] Germany bans far-right extremist magazine (Al Jazeera, 2024): [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/1/germany-bans-far-right-extremist-magazine][3] German Court Overturns Ban on Far-right Magazine Compact (Voanews, 2025): [https://www.voanews.com/a/german-court-overturns-ban-on-far-right-magazine-compact/6840186.html][4] Compact founder declares victory after far-right magazine publishes again (DW, 2025): [https://www.dw.com/en/compact-founder-declares-victory-after-far-right-magazine-publishes-again/a-61798547][5] Germany's Far-Right Magazine Compact Wins Court Battle to Stay in Print (The Atlantic, 2025): [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/06/germany-compact-far-right-extremist/669055/]
- The German Federal Administrative Court's decision to lift the ban on the far-right magazine "Compact" has sparked a policy-and-legislation debate, as some argue it infringes on civil liberties while others view it as a crucial victory for journalism freedom.
- As the controversial far-right magazine "Compact" continues its publication, the attention of the general news and crime-and-justice sectors remains keen, given the magazine's promotion of discriminatory ideas and its classification as far-right extremist.
