Right-wing extremist controversies: proceedings against Compact” started in Leipzig

Right-wing extremist controversies: proceedings against Compact” started in Leipzig

The interpretation of statements made by the right-wing extremist magazine “Compact” is currently being examined in a complex procedure before the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig. The focus here is on anti-constitutional content that conflicts with supposed expressions of opinion. Particularly explosive is the magazine's connection to the Austrian right-wing extremist Martin Sellner, who is considered central to addressing a young audience and regularly writes for “Compact”. Editor-in-chief Jürgen Elsässer has already emphasized that he appreciates Sellner, but does not support all of her content. The Ministry of the Interior (BMI), on the other hand, criticizes the lack of distance between “Compact” and Sellner, who recently took part in a controversial meeting of right-wing circles at which the term “remigration” was used, which is aimed at driving out foreign parts of the population under certain circumstances.

Events, like the meeting in Potsdam in November 2023, prompted “Compact” to publish a special edition to give a voice to the concerns of the “outlaws”. The core of the discussion revolves around the question of the extent to which such statements violate human dignity and the rule of law. This question can also be found in over 240 pages of documents from the BMI, which contain problematic terms such as “passport Germans” and “destructive strike against the German people”. An earlier comment by Elsässer that mentioned “culturally alien barbarians” also caused a lot of discussion. He and his wife are accused of quoting one-sidedly and not recognizing that they are pursuing unconstitutional goals.

Who is behind Martin Sellner?

Martin Sellner, born near Vienna in 1989, has an eventful past that is deeply rooted in the right-wing extremist milieu. He attracted attention at a young age when he stuck swastikas on a synagogue in 2006. In 2012 he was instrumental in founding the Identitarian Movement (IB) in Austria, which aims to present right-wing extremism as socially acceptable and propagates the conspiracy theory of the “great exchange”. This theory strikes a chord in certain circles as it fuels fear and mistrust of ethnic minorities.

Sellner caused a stir with his meeting with AfD and CDU politicians in Potsdam, where he presented a plan for “remigration”. He has been tried several times in the past but has never been convicted. This raises questions about the effectiveness of legal means against such extremist movements. He has been lucky so far: Although Soldner was tried for incitement in 2023, he was acquitted because no clear incitement to hate was discovered.

Future challenges for Sellner

The challenges for Sellner and the IB are now also taking on an international dimension. Potsdam is considering banning him from entering the country in order to prevent his statements. The UK and US have already taken similar measures. Given the ongoing debates and the annoying shadow he leaves in the public eye, it remains to be seen how the legal disputes surrounding “Compact” and the personalities associated with it will continue.

The Federal Administrative Court's decision remains to be seen, but the coming days could represent a turning point in the right-wing extremist media landscape. What will be revealing will be whether the court takes a position on the content addressed and ultimately what judgment will be made. One thing is certain: there is still a lot to be clarified in the discussion about freedom of expression and anti-constitutional statements.