Persisting Hunt for Opponents in Chemnitz Trial
Over half a decade has passed since the brutal pursuit of "Herz statt Hetze" demonstration participants in Chemnitz, with several suspects now facing trial since Monday. The initial group of nine defendants shrunk to six, with two absentees leading to severed cases, leaving four men under scrutiny. Nevertheless, the trial started off significantly slow, as two defendants were nowhere to be found.
Dating back to late summer 2018, the city of Chemnitz was littered with demonstrations and riots, sparked by the violent death of a local resident in a conflict with asylum seekers. Right-wing extremists flocked from various parts of Germany to attend, among them a so-called funeral march led by AfD, Pegida, and Pro Chemnitz. The indictment alleges that the defendants partook in these events and refused to leave once they were over. Instead, they decided to roam Chemnitz searching for counter-demonstrators with the intent to intimidate them.
The accused faced serious accusations, such as marching through the city in large groups, intimidating opponents, and chasing down a man suspected to be a migrant while shouting hateful slurs. The defendants are also accused of inciting violence by shouting "Adolf Hitler our leader" and "Fucking ticks."
Contextualizing the Trial
Victims' representatives have voiced harsh criticisms of the Saxon justice system, dismissing it for its prolonged trial durations. They believe the delays allowed neo-Nazi networks to thrive. These networks are believed to train individuals in martial arts for the sole purpose of intimidating, attacking, and injuring political adversaries.
The current trial involves eleven charges of breach of the peace and serious bodily harm. Several defendants face unique challenges, as one is reportedly undergoing psychiatric treatment, while another is currently in hiding to avoid serving another prison sentence. The remaining four defendants, aged between 26 and 44, hail from Saxony and Lower Saxony.
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Footnotes:
[1] Matysik, Jörg. "Die 'böse Hetze' gegen freie Meinungsäußerung - Reden Sie über Zensur." Matysik, 9 Mar. 2023, . [2] Plenarprotokoll 20/210 des Deutscher Bundestags. [3] Source: <GHOST_URL/a-clan-member-is-punished-here/> [4] Source: <GHOST_URL/traffic-lawyer-warns-dont-talk-to-the-police/> [5] Source: <GHOST_URL/will-he-be-convicted-as-juttas-murderer-after-37-years/> [6] Source: <GHOST_URL/he-also-wanted-to-kill-his-cousin/>
