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”.


Trump Pre-empts Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs by Telling Jet Maker Bombardier ‘No More Selling’ in US
‘You’re Fired’: Police Event Scraps Jelly Roll Performance in Response to Trump-Bashing on ‘Kimmel’
Trump Admin Preparing Plan to Boost Nuclear Families by Paying Stay-at-Home Moms: Report
NTSB reveals if crew survived Amazon cargo jet disaster as it shares details about victims
Dem Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff for Gloria Steinem – Will Remain Lowered on Anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s Murder
Menendez brothers granted 2027 parole hearing a year earlier than expected
Convicted Murderer Karmelo Anthony Now Begging Supporters for Another $250,000
New Mexico’s Dem Governor Triggered After Trump Jokingly Suggests New Name for Her State
Radical Muslim Kills Gay Pro-Palestine Activist Outside Gay Bar
WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Surges to Commanding Lead, Vance Cruises Past Massie
Alleged cryptoscam ringleader set for plea hearing in $240M bitcoin theft
Sherrill anti-ICE policy hammered after fleeing migrant driver injures Dem mayor’s wife
New California Bill Could Completely Disqualify Former ICE Agents from Public Employment
‘We’re Scared, Very Scared’: Weeping Spanish Girl Reveals Heartbreaking Reality of Mass Migration from Africa
Sen Jim Justice finds way through Senate polarization to bring WWII hero memorial to DC
See also  Former president-turned-amateur artist George W. Bush debuting new paintings for 9/11 remembrance

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.


Trump Pre-empts Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs by Telling Jet Maker Bombardier ‘No More Selling’ in US
‘You’re Fired’: Police Event Scraps Jelly Roll Performance in Response to Trump-Bashing on ‘Kimmel’
Trump Admin Preparing Plan to Boost Nuclear Families by Paying Stay-at-Home Moms: Report
NTSB reveals if crew survived Amazon cargo jet disaster as it shares details about victims
Dem Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff for Gloria Steinem – Will Remain Lowered on Anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s Murder
Menendez brothers granted 2027 parole hearing a year earlier than expected
Convicted Murderer Karmelo Anthony Now Begging Supporters for Another $250,000
New Mexico’s Dem Governor Triggered After Trump Jokingly Suggests New Name for Her State
Radical Muslim Kills Gay Pro-Palestine Activist Outside Gay Bar
WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Surges to Commanding Lead, Vance Cruises Past Massie
Alleged cryptoscam ringleader set for plea hearing in $240M bitcoin theft
Sherrill anti-ICE policy hammered after fleeing migrant driver injures Dem mayor’s wife
New California Bill Could Completely Disqualify Former ICE Agents from Public Employment
‘We’re Scared, Very Scared’: Weeping Spanish Girl Reveals Heartbreaking Reality of Mass Migration from Africa
Sen Jim Justice finds way through Senate polarization to bring WWII hero memorial to DC
See also  Gloria Steinem, outspoken feminist leader, dies at 92

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.


Trump Pre-empts Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs by Telling Jet Maker Bombardier ‘No More Selling’ in US
‘You’re Fired’: Police Event Scraps Jelly Roll Performance in Response to Trump-Bashing on ‘Kimmel’
Trump Admin Preparing Plan to Boost Nuclear Families by Paying Stay-at-Home Moms: Report
NTSB reveals if crew survived Amazon cargo jet disaster as it shares details about victims
Dem Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff for Gloria Steinem – Will Remain Lowered on Anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s Murder
Menendez brothers granted 2027 parole hearing a year earlier than expected
Convicted Murderer Karmelo Anthony Now Begging Supporters for Another $250,000
New Mexico’s Dem Governor Triggered After Trump Jokingly Suggests New Name for Her State
Radical Muslim Kills Gay Pro-Palestine Activist Outside Gay Bar
WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Surges to Commanding Lead, Vance Cruises Past Massie
Alleged cryptoscam ringleader set for plea hearing in $240M bitcoin theft
Sherrill anti-ICE policy hammered after fleeing migrant driver injures Dem mayor’s wife
New California Bill Could Completely Disqualify Former ICE Agents from Public Employment
‘We’re Scared, Very Scared’: Weeping Spanish Girl Reveals Heartbreaking Reality of Mass Migration from Africa
Sen Jim Justice finds way through Senate polarization to bring WWII hero memorial to DC

Story cited here.

See also  Maria Bartiromo no longer with Fox News
Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter