At a quarter to ten in the morning in Germany: Headmaster Jan-Dirk Zimmermann informs the police about a „possible criminal offence“. „According to this, there is information that a 17-year-old schoolgirl may have spread anti-constitutional content on social networks,“ said a police spokesman.
What exactly had happened? A few months ago (!), the schoolgirl had shared a Smurfs video on TikTok. She wrote that the Smurfs and Germany had something in common: the Smurfs are blue and so is Germany. This was probably an allusion to an earlier AfD advertising slogan. And then she wrote once that Germany was not just a place, but her home, according to her mother.
The police were called out, even though the headmaster's call did not indicate that a crime had been committed, as police spokesman Marcel Opitz later commented. The pupil was told that, for her own protection, she should refrain from making such posts in future. It was described as a „discussion to clarify the rules“.
This raises the question: what is the state of freedom of expression in our schools? In the very place where our children and young people are supposed to be prepared for a self-determined life? An isolated case, of course. AfD leader Alice Weidel had strong words to say about the incident: „Anyone who professes Germany as their homeland“ is now „the focus of the so-called defenders of democracy“.
When asked by a journalist about this „incident“, police spokesman Opitz explained: „In accordance with the principle of legality, the facts of the case had to be investigated. The most likely consideration would have been a possible violation of Section 86a or Section 130 of the German Criminal Code.“ Section 86a of the Criminal Code refers to the display of anti-constitutional or terrorist symbols, such as swastikas, the German salute, various runes or tattoos with mottos such as "blood and honour" or similar. Section 130 of the Criminal Code makes incitement of the people a criminal offence, for example, incitement to hatred and violence against ethnic groups.
Are the blue Smurfs enemies of the constitution? Should Vader Abraham now be locked away? Is it still okay to eat blueberries? And is everyone who drives a blue car under general suspicion? And what about the „blue-bloods“? *End of satire*. Feel free to continue listening to „Blue, blue, blue blooms the gentian...“. Germany is a place where freedom of expression reigns and tolerance and the idea of international understanding prevail. And blue Smurfs can continue to be sold, loved and posted. Smurfette, Papa Smurf and Gargamel will be delighted.
https://jungefreiheit.de/debatte/kommentar/2024/am-tiefpunkt-angekommen/
