Gera: Judge remains unpunished despite grossly tasteless remarks!

Gera: Judge remains unpunished despite grossly tasteless remarks!

A judge from Gera recently caused a stir when he used the term “rotational Europeans with property attribution weakness” for Sinti and Roma in a Facebook post. This statement led to proceedings for sedition. The Thuringian Higher Regional Court has now decided: The judge does not have to answer for sedition. Loud World Although the statement can be viewed as “grossly distasteful”, it does not constitute a criminal offence.

The public prosecutor had accused the judge of equating Sinti and Roma with “travelling gangs of thieves”. However, the allegations were not pursued further by the Gera regional court because it did not see sufficient legal basis for an indictment. However, the decision is not final and the Gera public prosecutor has lodged a complaint with the Higher Regional Court, as well MIGAZINE reported.

The verdict and the reactions

The district court judges emphasized that while the court's language was contemptible, it did not constitute a complete attack on human dignity, which would be necessary for criminal prosecution. Katharina König-Preuss from the Left criticized the decision as a “fatal signal” and called for political consequences. She had already filed a criminal complaint against the judge in August 2024 due to racist statements he was said to have made on the internet.

The judge is currently working at the Thuringian Ministry of Justice instead of at the Gera Administrative Court, where he was previously responsible for asylum procedures. There were also rumors about his pedagogical approach to these proceedings, as he was accused of less frequently recognizing asylum applications from Sinti and Roma. Existing disciplinary proceedings against him are currently suspended until the criminal allegations are clarified. Once completed, the process could be reopened, with possible consequences such as fines or even removal from service.

A deeper context

The discussion surrounding the judge's statements highlights deeper social challenges and prejudices against Sinti and Roma in Germany. This group has often suffered discrimination throughout history, and political expression in such contexts can further exacerbate the situation.

Dealing with the origins and identities of minorities is also a topic in other discourses. People and institutions must continually address their attitudes in order to reduce prejudices. Above all, political decision-makers and institutions should prevent such behavior and promote inclusive and respectful communication.