AfD man Schulz convicted of incitement – ​​debate about freedom of expression!

AfD man Schulz convicted of incitement – ​​debate about freedom of expression!

Today, June 30, 2025, there is a sensational case in Swabia that is heating up people's minds. A judgment was made in the Obernburg district court that deals with the long-standing debate about freedom of expression and the limits of incitement to hatred. Herbert Schulz, the district chairman of the AfD in Miltenberg, now has to deal with the consequences of his actions. How Primavera24 reports, Schulz was convicted of sedition and had to pay a fine. However, the punishment is so light that he is not considered to have a criminal record.

Schulz caused a stir with an image on social media that equated the Greens with the National Socialists. This action was classified as incitement to hatred by the Bamberg Higher Regional Court. The indictment by the Aschaffenburg public prosecutor's office is based on this highest court decision. There have been a number of similar trials in recent months, mostly against people from the right-wing spectrum. There are always accusations that these people are being silenced - a discussion that continues in political circles.

Freedom of expression in focus

The question of freedom of expression is firmly anchored in Germany by Article 5 of the Basic Law. But where does individual freedom end and criminal liability begin? This problem is not only hotly debated in Obernburg. The legal framework is also clear: insults, slander and slander are punishable, and incitement to hatred is also included ZDFheute reports.

In addition, measures against hate speech and disinformation have come into focus in recent months. According to the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD, these phenomena should be combated more strongly and the offense of incitement to hatred should be made more severe. The challenges are not just in the legal area: anonymity on the Internet and the rapid dissemination of information make legal prosecution increasingly difficult.

Hate speech vs. freedom of expression

The tension between freedom of expression and the fight against hate speech presents society with major challenges. Marzahn-Hellersdorf examines this topic and asks where exactly the line lies between permissible expression of opinion and punishable hate speech. The discussion about compliance with these limits is also fueled by the frequent cases of sedition, which always cause a stir. Politicians and the judiciary have a responsibility to draw clear lines here.

The conviction of Herbert Schulz is another piece of the puzzle in a complex social discourse. It remains to be seen what consequences this will have for the political landscape and public opinion. In any case, the debate about freedom of expression will continue - regardless of the district judge's ruling.