Ministerial Council and political parties issue a unified declaration
In a move to address growing concerns about online hostility and hate speech, a joint statement has been issued by members of the city council and representatives of the CDU, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, FDP, SPD, and Ka/UWG parties. While the exact text of the statement was not found, the context suggests that it reiterates a rejection of hate speech, personal harassment, and defamation in social networks and general interactions.
The representatives, who include Christian Horn-Heinemann, Ingo Kotzian, Nina Lennhof, Katrin Lukowitz, Dominik Broda, Astrid Werle, Dirk Salewski, Ulrike Bruckner-Kindsmüller, Hildegard Kuhlmeier, and Anja Rüdiger, have signed the joint statement.
This statement aims to foster a fair discussion culture without personal attacks on individuals and/or bodies, both online and offline. The fair discussion culture emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and agreed-upon arrangements in their dealings. It also applies to interactions among themselves and with elected representatives of the council and administration.
The foundation of democratic decision-making is a debate focused on the issue at hand, characterized by mutual respect. This fair discussion culture aims to encourage a debate centered on the topic at hand, rather than personal attacks or populist statements.
Recent events, such as the cancellation of a German football club’s signing of an Israeli player due to controversial social media posts and increased anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrations and restrictions on freedom of expression, have highlighted the need for such a statement. These incidents have sparked accusations of disrespect and discrimination and have further illustrated the rise of hate-driven actions and rhetoric in social spheres.
Germany’s official calls for stronger EU regulations against online hate speech indicate government-level recognition of the problem and initiatives to combat it. Academic insights also emphasize the importance of context in addressing hate speech, noting how stakeholders differentiate responses based on the perpetrator’s reach and intent.
The joint statement likely addresses condemnation of hateful expressions, reinforces democratic values, calls for respectful discourse, and possibly commits to concrete measures to prevent and counter hate speech on social networks within the city’s jurisdiction. The representatives have made it clear that anonymous attacks and populist statements are not welcomed in open discussions.
A separate incident, the non-renewal of the "Frankenheim" restaurant's lease agreement by the Warsteiner Brewery, has also led to personal attacks on individuals online and in social media. The fair discussion culture also applies to their dealings with elected representatives of the council and administration.
In conclusion, the joint statement by the German city council and party representatives is a significant step towards promoting respectful discourse and countering hate speech in the city’s digital spaces. The representatives have made it clear that they value open discussions, but they will not tolerate hateful expressions or personal attacks.
- The joint statement by the city council and party representatives, including Christian Horn-Heinemann, Ingo Kotzian, Nina Lennhof, Katrin Lukowitz, Dominik Broda, Astrid Werle, Dirk Salewski, Ulrike Bruckner-Kindsmüller, Hildegard Kuhlmeier, and Anja Rüdiger, aims to promote a fair discussion culture that rejects all forms of hate speech, personal harassment, and defamation in both online and offline general interactions, following the concerns about online hostility and hate speech.
- In the pursuit of fostering a democratic decision-making process based on mutual respect, the representatives have reiterated their stance against anonymous attacks, populist statements, and any hateful expressions that threaten to disrupt fair discussions within the city's policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news contexts.
