International News Opinons Politics

German Federal Council Passes Bill Giving Three Years in Prison for Denigrating EU Flag

The German Bundesrat, the upper chamber of the German parliament, has proposed banning Germans from denigrating both the European Union flag and anthem.

The Bundesrat, which is composed of delegates from the German states, passed a bill that could see individuals who either denigrate the EU flag or the EU anthem, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, punished with a fine or up to three years in prison, Die Welt reports.

German newspaper Saarbrücken Zeitung obtained a draft of the law earlier this year that urged law enforcement agencies “to take firm and effective action against those whose aim is to disparage the fundamental values ​​of the European Union”.


The draft continued, stating that violations would also cover attacks “on the reputation of the symbols of the European Union”.


Heat wave cancels some DC Independence Day celebrations
Two Americas: Mamdani and Trump give speeches ahead of Independence Day
Here Are 5 Insane Books Elementary Schools Are Offering Kids
The Answer To America’s Food Security Woes
Trump pardons 9 people convicted of tampering with emission controls on diesel engines
Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in America 250 speech before visiting global migrant hotspot
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to negotiate a 5% stake in company for US if competitors agree to key provision
Iran begins Khamenei’s funeral 126 days after assassination
July 1776 Copy of Declaration of Independence Discovered Outside US in Foreign Navy Captain’s Papers
WATCH – Charlie Kirk’s Final July 4 Message: ‘Why America Is a Christian Nation’
NC governor faces criticism for skipping Trump-backed America 250 event
Trump’s Mount Rushmore address features 28 minutes of iconic words, 23 minutes of dazzling light, fireworks
Thune and Trump share friendly greeting after critical clashes
CEO’s fire death sparks mystery, will fight over tech titan’s fortune
Top Trump official touts how DC makeover is proof America is rejecting ‘decline by choice’
See also  Thunderbirds to race cars: Inside Horsepower of America at the Great American State Fair

The newly passed bill must now be ratified by the Bundestag, although no date for a vote on the matter has been scheduled so far.

Germany has laws on the books that outlaw the denigration of foreign flags and national emblems but so far, the European Union’s flag and symbols have not been recognised under the laws.


Heat wave cancels some DC Independence Day celebrations
Two Americas: Mamdani and Trump give speeches ahead of Independence Day
Here Are 5 Insane Books Elementary Schools Are Offering Kids
The Answer To America’s Food Security Woes
Trump pardons 9 people convicted of tampering with emission controls on diesel engines
Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in America 250 speech before visiting global migrant hotspot
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to negotiate a 5% stake in company for US if competitors agree to key provision
Iran begins Khamenei’s funeral 126 days after assassination
July 1776 Copy of Declaration of Independence Discovered Outside US in Foreign Navy Captain’s Papers
WATCH – Charlie Kirk’s Final July 4 Message: ‘Why America Is a Christian Nation’
NC governor faces criticism for skipping Trump-backed America 250 event
Trump’s Mount Rushmore address features 28 minutes of iconic words, 23 minutes of dazzling light, fireworks
Thune and Trump share friendly greeting after critical clashes
CEO’s fire death sparks mystery, will fight over tech titan’s fortune
Top Trump official touts how DC makeover is proof America is rejecting ‘decline by choice’
See also  Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce take over Madison Square Garden, shut down Midtown Manhattan

The country also has laws against insulting foreign heads of state, a law that nearly saw the prosecution of left-wing comedian Jan Böhmermann in 2016 over an offensive poem about Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that was later banned by a German court.

While charges were initiated against Böhmermann, they were later dropped, with Chancellor Angela Merkel even admitting that she had made an “error” in viewing the poem as “deliberately insulting”.

In neighbouring France, the government has forced schools across the country to start flying the EU flag alongside the French tricolore.

The move was part of educational reforms enacted by French president Emmanuel Macron that also lowered the age of compulsory school entry from six to three years old.


Heat wave cancels some DC Independence Day celebrations
Two Americas: Mamdani and Trump give speeches ahead of Independence Day
Here Are 5 Insane Books Elementary Schools Are Offering Kids
The Answer To America’s Food Security Woes
Trump pardons 9 people convicted of tampering with emission controls on diesel engines
Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in America 250 speech before visiting global migrant hotspot
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to negotiate a 5% stake in company for US if competitors agree to key provision
Iran begins Khamenei’s funeral 126 days after assassination
July 1776 Copy of Declaration of Independence Discovered Outside US in Foreign Navy Captain’s Papers
WATCH – Charlie Kirk’s Final July 4 Message: ‘Why America Is a Christian Nation’
NC governor faces criticism for skipping Trump-backed America 250 event
Trump’s Mount Rushmore address features 28 minutes of iconic words, 23 minutes of dazzling light, fireworks
Thune and Trump share friendly greeting after critical clashes
CEO’s fire death sparks mystery, will fight over tech titan’s fortune
Top Trump official touts how DC makeover is proof America is rejecting ‘decline by choice’

Story cited here.

See also  Before 1776: Rediscovering America’s first chapter at Jamestown
Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter