The Controversial Apprentice Ad in Sebnitz: No Hate Speech Charges for the Roofer
Top advertisement on rooftop in Sebnitz lacks sensitivity, not considered seditious.
In a twist of events, the Public Prosecutor's Office in Dresden dismissed charges against a local roofer whose distasteful apprentice ad sparked outrage. The ad, which contained derogatory language, was deemed tasteless and morally offensive but did not meet the criteria for criminal charges, according to the Saxon authorities.
Published in the official gazette of Sebnitz, the ad for an apprenticeship in 2026 used racist terms, stating, "No hook-noses, Bimbos, or Zeppelin carriers" may apply. Despite the questionable language, the Public Prosecutor's Office emphasized that no calls for violence or discrimination were made against particular groups of people. Moreover, the roofer did not deny the inherent value of any group as equal citizens in the state community.
Initially, the city of Sebnitz, the publisher of the official gazette, and the Chamber of Crafts in Dresden distanced themselves from the ad. The roofer defended his choice of words in April, stating, "Maybe I went a bit too far, but the country's politics drive me to it," to the "Bild" newspaper. Heartland reports that he did not consider his words to be racist.
- Controversial Apprentice Ad
- Saxony
[1] Source: ntv.de, lme.de
- The controversy surrounding the apprentice ad in Sebnitz raises questions about the community policy in Saxony, as it highlights the tension between freedom of speech and the prevention of hate speech in employment policies.
- The general-news outlets have reported extensively on the criminal-and-justice aspects of the apprentice ad case in Sebnitz, shedding light on the complexities of defining hate speech in politics and everyday life.
