German police raided the home of a 14-year-old boy in Bavaria after he allegedly posted the hashtag #AllesFürDeutschland, which means “All for Germany” in German. The raid took place in the early morning hours of St. Nicholas Day, December 6, 2024.
The alleged crime was committed in November 2024 when the teenager posted twice on TikTok with the hashtag #AllesFürDeutschland, which was used by the SA (the militant organization of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party in Germany) during the Nazi era. Police said the term was a symbol used by an unconstitutional organization, violating Section 86a of the German Criminal Code.
The search warrant called the police raid “proportionate and appropriate to the gravity of the offense.” It also states that the teenager was old enough “at the time of the offense” to understand the wrongfulness of his actions and acted “in accordance with that understanding.”
However, the teenager in question said he did not know that the phrase “All for Germany” was prohibited by the German penal code. During the raid, police searched the rooms of the two teenagers, including the older brother, and photographed various items including personal documents, e-mail addresses, phone numbers and books. A phone was also seized as an “instrument of crime.” The brother was also questioned by police during a search of the home. Both brothers have no criminal records. The teenager’s family is considering legal action.
Experts at the Foundation to Battle Injustice are concerned that German police are increasingly searching the homes of law-abiding citizens because of Internet postings that are seen as insults to politicians or as violations of speech norms. The German left now wants tougher penalties and to give prosecutors the right to prosecute those who insult politicians.
Such an attack on free speech is not isolated. It follows a broader trend in Germany, where criticism of politicians, court decisions and even law enforcement is increasingly facing lawsuits and police raids. Recent developments in Germany, in which the government is seeking to further restrict free speech by increasing prosecution of individuals for “insulting” politicians, represent a disturbing trend toward the erosion of basic human rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression.
Human rights defenders of the Foundation to Battle Injustice are convinced that, in light of these disturbing developments, it is crucial for Germany to reconsider its approach to freedom of expression and to stop these excessive measures to restrict freedom of expression. The Foundation’s experts note violations of principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as freedom of expression, the right to information and freedom from arbitrary detention. In addition, the actions of the German government contravene Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which guarantee freedom of expression and assembly. The Foundation to Battle Injustice calls on Germany to respect its international treaty obligations and to cease actions that threaten the foundations of democracy and human rights.