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”.


Manhattan DA to retry Etan Patz’s killer after conviction in deadly 1979 kidnapping was overturned
Migrant teenagers charged in fatal stabbing of homeless man in Chicago
Muslim groups, other leaders demand Abbott rescind CAIR’s ‘terrorist’ designation: ‘Defamatory’
Rep. Swalwell sues Trump official over mortgage fraud allegations: ‘A gross abuse of power’
Roblox CEO calls child predator crisis an ‘opportunity’ amid ban of gamer who exposed groomers on platform
Miami woman allegedly slices boyfriend with machete after restaurant fight over infidelity
‘Zizian’ ringleader accuses Trump admin of transgender ‘genocide’ in courtroom tirade
DHS says four House Democrats ‘chose to stand with criminal illegal aliens’ after visiting ICE detainee
Navy sailor dies after rescuing 2 children from high surf in Hawaii waters
Parents/Grandparents Alert: Christmas AI Teddy Bears Can Teach Kids About Bondage Sex, How to Light Matches, Where to Find Knives, Pills, Plastic Bags
Fact Check: Did the Trump Administration Declare Nurses Aren’t ‘Professionals’?
NYC Council welcomes new mayor with bill that would dramatically raise salaries for city officials
Taliban vows to respond after alleged Pakistani strikes rock Afghanistan overnight
Hegseth seeks briefing on Sen Mark Kelly ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ viral video
Mamdani economic advisor is reparations activist who says ‘devaluation of Black lives’ ingrained in US system
See also  DOGE closes eight months early, but principles remain ‘alive and well’

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.


Manhattan DA to retry Etan Patz’s killer after conviction in deadly 1979 kidnapping was overturned
Migrant teenagers charged in fatal stabbing of homeless man in Chicago
Muslim groups, other leaders demand Abbott rescind CAIR’s ‘terrorist’ designation: ‘Defamatory’
Rep. Swalwell sues Trump official over mortgage fraud allegations: ‘A gross abuse of power’
Roblox CEO calls child predator crisis an ‘opportunity’ amid ban of gamer who exposed groomers on platform
Miami woman allegedly slices boyfriend with machete after restaurant fight over infidelity
‘Zizian’ ringleader accuses Trump admin of transgender ‘genocide’ in courtroom tirade
DHS says four House Democrats ‘chose to stand with criminal illegal aliens’ after visiting ICE detainee
Navy sailor dies after rescuing 2 children from high surf in Hawaii waters
Parents/Grandparents Alert: Christmas AI Teddy Bears Can Teach Kids About Bondage Sex, How to Light Matches, Where to Find Knives, Pills, Plastic Bags
Fact Check: Did the Trump Administration Declare Nurses Aren’t ‘Professionals’?
NYC Council welcomes new mayor with bill that would dramatically raise salaries for city officials
Taliban vows to respond after alleged Pakistani strikes rock Afghanistan overnight
Hegseth seeks briefing on Sen Mark Kelly ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ viral video
Mamdani economic advisor is reparations activist who says ‘devaluation of Black lives’ ingrained in US system
See also  Where illegal immigrants find work in the US

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.


Manhattan DA to retry Etan Patz’s killer after conviction in deadly 1979 kidnapping was overturned
Migrant teenagers charged in fatal stabbing of homeless man in Chicago
Muslim groups, other leaders demand Abbott rescind CAIR’s ‘terrorist’ designation: ‘Defamatory’
Rep. Swalwell sues Trump official over mortgage fraud allegations: ‘A gross abuse of power’
Roblox CEO calls child predator crisis an ‘opportunity’ amid ban of gamer who exposed groomers on platform
Miami woman allegedly slices boyfriend with machete after restaurant fight over infidelity
‘Zizian’ ringleader accuses Trump admin of transgender ‘genocide’ in courtroom tirade
DHS says four House Democrats ‘chose to stand with criminal illegal aliens’ after visiting ICE detainee
Navy sailor dies after rescuing 2 children from high surf in Hawaii waters
Parents/Grandparents Alert: Christmas AI Teddy Bears Can Teach Kids About Bondage Sex, How to Light Matches, Where to Find Knives, Pills, Plastic Bags
Fact Check: Did the Trump Administration Declare Nurses Aren’t ‘Professionals’?
NYC Council welcomes new mayor with bill that would dramatically raise salaries for city officials
Taliban vows to respond after alleged Pakistani strikes rock Afghanistan overnight
Hegseth seeks briefing on Sen Mark Kelly ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ viral video
Mamdani economic advisor is reparations activist who says ‘devaluation of Black lives’ ingrained in US system

Story cited here.

See also  Mia Cathell testifies on anti-ICE uprisings at Senate judiciary hearing
Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter