Politics Right-wing extremist magazine banned in Germany

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has banned "Compact" magazine, which has been classified as right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and Conspect Film GmbH.

According to her ministry, since the early hours of the morning, forces have been searching the premises of the organization as well as the homes of leading players, the management and shareholders in Brandenburg, Hesse, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.

The aim of the raid was to confiscate assets and evidence, according to a statement. Among other things, a house in Falkensee, Brandenburg, whose address is mentioned in the magazine's masthead, was searched.

Faeser justified the ban by stating that "Compact" is a "central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene". She said: "This magazine incites hatred against Jews, against people with a history of migration and against our parliamentary democracy in an unspeakable way." The ban shows "that we are also taking action against the intellectual arsonists who are stirring up a climate of hatred and violence against refugees and migrants and want to overcome our democratic state."

"Anti-democratic and anti-human dignity positions"

As early as 2022, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution ruled that the magazine, led by editor-in-chief Jürgen Elsässer, "as a multimedia company, carries anti-democratic and anti-human dignity positions into society". The magazine's leading figures maintain contacts with important players in the so-called New Right.

Among other things, a coin with the likeness of Thuringian AfD state chairman Björn Höcke can be purchased in the Compact online store. Elsässer gets his audiences roaring at events with slogans such as "Ami go home and friendship with Russia".

SDA