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Trial begins against El Hotzo: That's why Trump is being satirically accused!
Sebastian Hotz, known as "El Hotzo," will go on trial on July 23 for his comments about a Trump assassination attempt.
Trial begins against El Hotzo: That's why Trump is being satirically accused!
Things are simmering in the capital: Sebastian Hotz, better known as “El Hotzo”, has to stand trial. The comedian is under fire for his controversial comments about the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Berlin prosecutors have accused him of “rewarding and endorsing crimes,” reigniting public debate about the limits of satire. Loud RBB24 The trial is scheduled to begin on July 23rd at the Tiergarten District Court, although so far only one day of trial has been scheduled.
The allegations against Hotz are not without their own merits: in July of last year he caused a lot of controversy with posts on the “X” platform. The content he distributed, which made a reference to a bus and Trump, included the provocative statement: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic when fascists die.” These statements not only caused a stir, but also had consequences on ARD. The broadcaster ended its collaboration with Hotz on the youth channel Fritz and canceled a planned literary event on ARD Kultur World reported.
The legal gray areas of satire
A look at the legal framework shows how thin the line is between satire and criminal statements. From a legal perspective, condoning violent crimes falls under Section 140 of the Criminal Code, which makes headlines in the spirit of public peace. Even if satirical statements are fundamentally protected by freedom of expression, they must be recognizable as such. A court has already found this in another case in which a manipulated image of a politician who allegedly “hates freedom of expression” was harshly criticized. Satire that is not clearly recognizable can quickly lead to criminal defamation anwalt.de optionally explained in a judgment.
For Hotz, this process could be groundbreaking and has far-reaching implications not only for his work, but also for the general freedom of expression in Germany. It remains to be seen how the legal authorities will decide and how public opinion will develop in the meantime. A heated discussion is already in full swing and shows how important it is to question the limits of satirical art. The verdict could send a signal – for the freedom of satire or for the responsibility that comes with it.