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Federal court lifts ban on right-wing extremist magazine Compact”!
The Federal Administrative Court lifts the ban on the right-wing extremist magazine “Compact”, despite concerns about its content.
Federal court lifts ban on right-wing extremist magazine Compact”!
In a significant ruling, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig The ban on the right-wing extremist magazine “Compact” was lifted. The background to this decision is the original ban that was imposed in June 2024 by the then Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD). This ban was justified with the accusation that the magazine acted as a “central mouthpiece for the right-wing extremist scene”.
The main aim of the trial was to clarify whether the contents of the magazine were covered by freedom of the press and freedom of expression or whether they were unconstitutional and therefore posed a concrete threat. The judges of the 6th Senate took it for granted that the content discussed was problematic, but not so dangerous that it shaped the magazine. This means that freedom of the press was given greater weight than the ban in this case.
A look at the background
“Compact” Magazin GmbH, which was founded in 2010 and is based in Stößen, Saxony-Anhalt, has been the focus of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for a long time. According to their assessment, the GmbH was classified as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization at the end of 2021. The magazine has a circulation of 40,000 copies and the associated online TV channel achieves up to 460,000 clicks per video. Editor-in-chief Jürgen Elsässer filed a lawsuit against the ban, which ultimately led to the court's decision.
In recent years, courts have applied increasingly strict standards when assessing content that borders on unconstitutional. The judges found that a central question in the proceedings was whether a press product could be banned on the basis of the Association Act. This was not a problem for the court as there was no clear evidence of an immediate threat from the publications.
Political and social reactions
The political landscape reacted mixed to the verdict. The German Association of Journalists (DJV) stated that this decision was “of fundamental importance,” while Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that the ruling touches on central questions of press freedom and may have a far-reaching signaling effect. Representatives of the magazine continue to argue that they are not pursuing a strategy of subversion and that their statements are covered by freedom of expression.
In addition to the controversy surrounding the magazine, the topic of right-wing extremism on the Internet remains highly topical. A current one Brochure from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution describes how the Internet can act as a motor for right-wing extremist radicalization. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram serve as important channels through which right-wing extremist content is spread and new followers are recruited.
In summary, the lifting of the ban on “Compact” shows how complex the relationship between freedom of the press and the fight against extremist ideologies is. While the verdict represents a significant victory for the magazine, society remains challenged to address the challenges of the digital space and radicalization. A good hand is required here to find a balance between freedom and security.