Process start against El Hotzo: That is why Trump is satirically charged!

Process start against El Hotzo: That is why Trump is satirically charged!

Tiergarten, Berlin, Deutschland - In the capital it is bubbling: Sebastian Hotz, better known as "El Hotzo", has to answer in court. The comedian is under fire because of his controversial statements on the former US President Donald Trump. The Berlin public prosecutor has accused him of “reward and approval of criminal offenses”, which rejects the public debate about the borders of satire. According to rbb24 , the trial should begin on July 23rd before the District Court, with only one negotiation day.

The allegations that are made are not without: In July of last year, he caused plenty of ignition material with posts on the "X" platform. The content, which was spread by it, which made a reference to a bus and Trump, contained the provocative statement: "I find it absolutely fantastic when fascists die." These statements not only caused a sensation, but also resulted in consequences in the ARD. The broadcaster ended the collaboration with Hotz at the youth broadcaster Fritz and told a planned literary event in ARD Kultur, as Welt

The legal gray areas of satire

A look at the legal framework shows how narrow the line between satire and criminal statements is. In terms of law, the approval of violent crimes falls under §140 of the Criminal Code, which makes headlines in the sense of public peace. Even if satirical statements are fundamentally protected by freedom of expression, they must be recognizable as such. A court already found this in another case in which a manipulated picture of a politician who allegedly "hates freedom of expression" was criticized. Satire, which is not clearly recognizable, can quickly lead to a criminal defamation, such as Anwalt.de Facultatively explained in a judgment.

For Hotz, this process could be groundbreaking and not only has extensive implications for his work, but also for the general freedom of expression in Germany. It remains to be seen how the legal authorities 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 also question the limits of satirical art. The verdict could set an example - for the freedom of satire or for the responsibility that goes hand in hand with it.