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”.


Rand Paul Puts Aside Differences, Sends Trump a Personal Message Seeking to Partner on Key Proposal
Ben Stiller’s Attempt to Defend Somalis from Trump Backfires as Social Media Users Offer a Suggestion
Pentagon probe into secret Signal chats on Houthi strikes set to drop Thursday as Hegseth faces scrutiny
US asks Lebanon to return Israeli bomb to prevent capture by Russia or China
Bondi blasts discrimination lawsuit from immigration judge: ‘Last time I checked, I’m a woman too’
Trump peace plan passes in Knesset despite boycott over mention of Palestinian statehood
‘Winter Vomiting Disease’ Is Spreading Rapidly in the US, CDC Data Shows
More Immigration Judges’ Heads Roll as Trump Continues Clearing Way for Deportations – At Least 100 Judges off the Bench Since January
Trump admin debuts ‘Fentanyl Free America’ plan as DEA touts impact of Caribbean boat strikes
Bipartisan deal on Obamacare subsidies fades as Republicans push HSA plan
Man charged with attacking NYU student has 16 prior arrests
California Christian college student founds pro-life club after school rejects Students for Life chapter
Patriots Star Calls Attention to Persecuted Christians with Special Cleats: ‘Will You Stand with Them?’
Let’s Roll, Mr. President: ICE Surging Into New Target and the Somalis Are Scared
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to special election results for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District
See also  Virginia GOP chairman stepping down after drastic losses in November elections

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.


Rand Paul Puts Aside Differences, Sends Trump a Personal Message Seeking to Partner on Key Proposal
Ben Stiller’s Attempt to Defend Somalis from Trump Backfires as Social Media Users Offer a Suggestion
Pentagon probe into secret Signal chats on Houthi strikes set to drop Thursday as Hegseth faces scrutiny
US asks Lebanon to return Israeli bomb to prevent capture by Russia or China
Bondi blasts discrimination lawsuit from immigration judge: ‘Last time I checked, I’m a woman too’
Trump peace plan passes in Knesset despite boycott over mention of Palestinian statehood
‘Winter Vomiting Disease’ Is Spreading Rapidly in the US, CDC Data Shows
More Immigration Judges’ Heads Roll as Trump Continues Clearing Way for Deportations – At Least 100 Judges off the Bench Since January
Trump admin debuts ‘Fentanyl Free America’ plan as DEA touts impact of Caribbean boat strikes
Bipartisan deal on Obamacare subsidies fades as Republicans push HSA plan
Man charged with attacking NYU student has 16 prior arrests
California Christian college student founds pro-life club after school rejects Students for Life chapter
Patriots Star Calls Attention to Persecuted Christians with Special Cleats: ‘Will You Stand with Them?’
Let’s Roll, Mr. President: ICE Surging Into New Target and the Somalis Are Scared
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to special election results for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District
See also  Stefanik blasts Johnson, GOP as ‘getting rolled’ by House Democrats

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.


Rand Paul Puts Aside Differences, Sends Trump a Personal Message Seeking to Partner on Key Proposal
Ben Stiller’s Attempt to Defend Somalis from Trump Backfires as Social Media Users Offer a Suggestion
Pentagon probe into secret Signal chats on Houthi strikes set to drop Thursday as Hegseth faces scrutiny
US asks Lebanon to return Israeli bomb to prevent capture by Russia or China
Bondi blasts discrimination lawsuit from immigration judge: ‘Last time I checked, I’m a woman too’
Trump peace plan passes in Knesset despite boycott over mention of Palestinian statehood
‘Winter Vomiting Disease’ Is Spreading Rapidly in the US, CDC Data Shows
More Immigration Judges’ Heads Roll as Trump Continues Clearing Way for Deportations – At Least 100 Judges off the Bench Since January
Trump admin debuts ‘Fentanyl Free America’ plan as DEA touts impact of Caribbean boat strikes
Bipartisan deal on Obamacare subsidies fades as Republicans push HSA plan
Man charged with attacking NYU student has 16 prior arrests
California Christian college student founds pro-life club after school rejects Students for Life chapter
Patriots Star Calls Attention to Persecuted Christians with Special Cleats: ‘Will You Stand with Them?’
Let’s Roll, Mr. President: ICE Surging Into New Target and the Somalis Are Scared
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to special election results for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District

Story cited here.

See also  DOJ weighing possible new indictments for Comey and James: Reports
Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter