2024-08-01 17:29:48
The right-wing extremist magazine was recently banned in Germany. Now two of the editors have posted parts of “Compact” on the Internet.
Activists have posted content from the banned “Compact” magazine on the Internet. The issue planned for August is available in full under a different title, announced the editors Anselm Lenz and Hendrik Sodenkamp on the sidelines of an AfD event in Falkensee, Brandenburg. The former “Compact” editor-in-chief Jürgen Elsässer said he was not involved in the publication, but welcomed it. Lenz and Sodenkamp also publish the magazine “Democratic Resistance,” according to their own statements.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) banned the magazine, which the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified as right-wing extremist, on July 16. She justified the move by saying that “Compact” was a “central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene” and was directed against the constitutional order.
Elsässer’s lawyers announced that they had filed a lawsuit against the “Compact” ban in an expedited procedure before the Federal Administrative Court last week. The aim is for “Compact” to be able to continue its work and appear again, said lawyer Gerhard Vierfuß. The court has given Faeser’s ministry until next Monday to respond.
Elsässer, the lawyers and the activists spoke on the sidelines of an AfD Falkensee event, which had been the subject of debate beforehand. The AfD rented a hall in the city of Falkensee for the purpose of holding a press conference. In the meantime, however, the party had spoken of a town hall meeting and appearances by Elsässer’s lawyers. The city objected to this and insisted that only accredited journalists were allowed to ask questions.
In fact, there were many AfD supporters in the room who applauded regularly. Elsässer was also in the audience. The AfD then continued the event outside the city hall as a spontaneous demonstration in order to circumvent the requirements.
AfD representatives criticized the “Compact” ban. It is an attack on freedom of the press, freedom of expression in Germany is being “controlled” and increasingly restricted, said Bundestag member Steffen Kotré.