Roofer in Saxony's Controversial Apprenticeship Ad Not Found Guilty of Incitement - Just Offensivebanter
Rooftop ad in Sebnitz not deemed seditious; rather, deemed inappropriate.
The public prosecutor's office in Dresden has dropped several cases against a roofer due to an inflammatory advertisement for an apprenticeship position. Following an investigation, the authorities found that, while the ad's content may have been distasteful and morally dodgy, it did not meet the criteria for criminal charges. The offensive words used in the advertisement are protected under freedom of expression laws.
The roofer posted an advertisement for an apprenticeship starting in 2026 in the local gazette of the Saxon Switzerland town of Sebnitz, containing racial slurs. Interested candidates were encouraged to apply, albeit with certain conditions: "no hooked noses, bimbos or Zeppelin carriers."
Initially, there were concerns that the mentioned groups of people might not be easily identifiable. Moreover, the suspect didn't advocate for violence or discrimination against specific groups of individuals through the advertisement. Notably, the suspect also didn't strip any group of people of their right to life as equal, valuable citizens in the community.
The city of Sebnitz, the publisher of the official gazette, and the Chamber of Crafts in Dresden had all distanced themselves from the controversial ad. The roofer, who defended the advertisement in April, asserted that while he may have overstepped, "the country and its politics drive me to it."
Further ReadingIn the face of racist apprenticeship searches, Sebnitz roofer retreats into excuses
KeywordsRacism, Saxony
Insights:
- The advertisement in question contained offensive language against specific groups of people, but it did not incite violence or discrimination, and it did not underestimate the value of any group as equal citizens.
- The investigating authorities found that the content of the advertisement did not constitute a criminal offense.
- The decision not to pursue formal charges has sparked debates on perceived leniency towards racism in legal proceedings.
In light of the controversial apprenticeship advertisement, discussions surrounding the community and employment policies have arisen, with some questioning the leniency towards racism in legal proceedings. Despite the offensive language used, the investigation concluded that the advertisement did not meet the criteria for criminal charges in the realm of politics or crime-and-justice, as it did not incite violence or discrimination against specific groups. This advertisement, initially published in the general-news section of the local gazette, has sparked a heated debate on the topic of racism in Saxony.
