Madness: American Satirist C.J. Hopkins Sentenced in German Speech Case

Rackett News-Substack ^ | 8/23/23 | Matt Taibbi

[CFW]

Just when you may have thought things couldn’t get any crazier: American playwright and humorist C.J. Hopkins, profiled in this space on numerous occasions, has been sent a “punishment order” by a German judge, offering him a Sophie’s Choice of 60 days in jail or 3,600 euros.

His crime? Essentially, insulting the German health minister in a tweet, and using a scarcely-visible image of a Swastika on a mask in a book critical of the global pandemic response, The Rise of the New Normal Reich. He was first accused of this “crime” in June, shortly after Roger Waters was placed under investigation for wearing his clearly satirical “Pink” costume in a stage performance in Berlin. As I wrote when C.J. was charged weeks later, authorities claim that through the use of the mask image, C.J. was “disseminating propaganda, the contents of which are intended to further the aims of a former National Socialist organization.”

The judge in C.J.’s case has already heard free-speech argumentation from his lawyer, and this technically being a non-jury misdemeanor offense, has already ruled against those arguments. C.J. will apparently have a chance to argue for mitigation, but the decree has already been handed down:

[ansel12]

By the way, when I said “nabbed him” I knew it was with the consent of the Dutch and I didn’t mean like they kidnapped him and smuggled him out, I worded it badly/lazily.

[Menes]

Yes, he does live in Berlin, according to his Twitter profile.

Needless to say, had he been in the US, the whole affair would have been a non-issue, Thanks to the First Amendment.

Unfortunately, those blessed countries with freedom of speech are a minority, worldwide…

[Menes]

If I remember correctly, the Danish and German governments have a treaty in force, which stipulates that warrants issued by one of their governments would be honored by the other one,. It came into force in the Seventies, iirc, when terrorists from the left used to flee across the Danish-German border with some regularity.

Yes, I‘m very sure it‘s very hard for an American, who is accustomed to Free Speech, to what lengths German governments are willing to go in any matter concerning the darkest period in my people’s two millennia long history…I really can relate 😔

My wish would have been simply to have been able to talk to Mr. Lauck. Peacefully and with an open mind.

By the way: Am I wrong or is it really just leftists who never are willing to give, or even consider, forgiveness? I would like to be, if possible, a better person than they are.