Criticism from the USA: What is the real status of freedom of expression in Germany?

Criticism from the USA: What is the real status of freedom of expression in Germany?

In a current debate about freedom of expression in Germany, both the federal government and the US State Department have drawn attention. On August 13, 2025, the US State Department released a report stating that the human rights situation in Germany, particularly with regard to freedom of expression, had deteriorated. According to the report, the climate for freedom of expression is becoming increasingly threatening and anti-Semitic violence is a significant human rights problem. This has caused a lot of outrage both in the German government and in the media. Deutschlandfunk reports that the spokesman for the Foreign Office noted the criticism of Germany, but emphasized that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are not restricted in the Federal Republic.

“Article 5 of the Basic Law guarantees freedom of expression in Germany,” emphasized a government spokesman. He went on to say that Germany is a stable democracy with broad protection of freedom of expression and that there is no censorship. But these statements contradict the findings of the US State Department's annual report, which says that there was a stable human rights situation, particularly last year, under the Biden administration, while significant problems are now being identified. daily news describes that the Trump administration had already pointed out these shortcomings and that the return to a critical view of freedom of expression in Germany did not go unnoticed.

Anti-Semitism and migration

A central theme of the report is the increasing anti-Semitic violence in Germany. The authors of the report believe that immigration can be seen as a cause of the rise in anti-Semitism. They emphasize that German authorities may be downplaying the role of immigrant Muslims in this issue and instead focusing excessively on right-wing extremists. The reporting found that anti-Semitic crimes in Germany were recorded at more than twice the rate in the first nine months of 2024, adding to the worrying situation. Mirror points out that several people have been arrested for incitement to racial hatred and Holocaust denial.

Different representations of the situation also attract criticism. Human rights activists have described the report as selective and not objective. Official German statistics contradict the US State Department's claim that there are serious restrictions on freedom of expression. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has rejected the interference of US politicians in German affairs and succinctly said that Germany has its own challenges, without any external pressure.

Overall, the debate over freedom of expression in Germany not only shows different perspectives within the political landscape, but also raises fundamental questions about the role of immigration in society. After all, freedom of expression remains a crucial pillar of democracy, the preservation of which is being put to the test in both domestic and foreign policy.