For the first time, a German court has convicted right-wing extremist musicians for forming and being members of a criminal organization. The lyricist of the neo-Nazi band "Landser" must serve three years and four months in prison as a ringleader, according to a ruling by the Berlin Court of Appeal on Monday. The judges found the charges of incitement to hatred and dissemination of Nazi propaganda to be proven. The bassist and drummer received suspended sentences of 21 and 22 months, respectively, and must each perform 90 hours of community service in Jewish and migrant organizations.
The now-dismantled cult band of the neo-Nazi scene had incited hatred and mockery towards foreigners and dissenters with their rousing music, the ruling stated. As "self-proclaimed terrorists with electric guitars," the defendants posed a danger to public safety. The men were found to be partly responsible for right-wing extremist violent acts. They held a prominent position in the right-wing extremist music scene, the judges determined after a six-month trial. The three musicians, aged between 28 and 38, were deemed by the court to have demeaned foreigners in their human dignity and denied them the right to life on their CDs, which were produced abroad and distributed conspiratorially. The defense announced it would appeal the ruling.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office repeatedly emphasized that the trial against the "neo-Nazi cult band" is of "exemplary significance." With the indictment under Section 129 of the Criminal Code, which regulates "membership in a criminal organization," the aim is to expand the criminal prosecution of right-wing extremism.
The second criminal division of the Court of Appeal had originally refused to allow the charge of "membership in a criminal organization" at all. However, the Federal Court of Justice ruled in favor of the Federal Prosecutor's Office.
The now-dismantled cult band of the neo-Nazi scene had incited hatred and mockery towards foreigners and dissenters with their rousing music, the ruling stated. As "self-proclaimed terrorists with electric guitars," the defendants posed a danger to public safety. The men were found to be partly responsible for right-wing extremist violent acts. They held a prominent position in the right-wing extremist music scene, the judges determined after a six-month trial. The three musicians, aged between 28 and 38, were deemed by the court to have demeaned foreigners in their human dignity and denied them the right to life on their CDs, which were produced abroad and distributed conspiratorially. The defense announced it would appeal the ruling.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office repeatedly emphasized that the trial against the "neo-Nazi cult band" is of "exemplary significance." With the indictment under Section 129 of the Criminal Code, which regulates "membership in a criminal organization," the aim is to expand the criminal prosecution of right-wing extremism.
The second criminal division of the Court of Appeal had originally refused to allow the charge of "membership in a criminal organization" at all. However, the Federal Court of Justice ruled in favor of the Federal Prosecutor's Office.
