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Dortmund court overturns AfD event ban, allowing Höcke's speech at City Hall

Controversy erupts as judges side with the AfD, forcing City Hall to host a polarizing figure. What does this mean for free speech and political fairness?

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The image shows a group of people walking down a street, holding a banner with text and images on...
The image shows a group of people walking down a street, holding a banner with text and images on it. On the left side of the image, there is a car parked on the road. In the background, there are buildings, trees, sign boards, poles, a clock tower, and a clear blue sky. The people are wearing masks, suggesting that they are participating in a protest against racism.

Far-Right AfD Party

Court: Höcke Speech in Dortmund Town Hall Allowed to Take Place - Dortmund court overturns AfD event ban, allowing Höcke's speech at City Hall

AfD politician Björn Höcke will likely be allowed to deliver his speech at Dortmund City Hall after a court overturned the city's ban.

Dortmund's AfD faction appears set to hold its New Year's reception with Thuringia state leader Björn Höcke in City Hall as planned. The Gelsenkirchen Administrative Court granted the AfD's emergency motion, striking down the city's last-minute prohibition, the court announced.

While Dortmund could theoretically challenge the ruling with an appeal to the Higher Administrative Court (OVG) in Münster, a decision would not come before the event on Sunday evening, an OVG spokesperson explained. For an expedited review, lawyers would have needed to file notice in Münster well in advance—but neither side did so before the Friday afternoon deadline.

The AfD's city council group has invited 280 guests to its New Year's reception at City Hall on Sunday, where Höcke is scheduled to speak.

Dortmund's Lord Mayor Alexander Kalouti (CDU) had abruptly declared the event "inadmissible," arguing that Höcke's involvement stripped it of its status as a council faction gathering.

However, judges from the 15th Chamber of the Gelsenkirchen Administrative Court explicitly rejected this reasoning. They noted that other factions in Dortmund's council had also hosted guest speakers in City Hall, meaning the AfD must be treated equally under the law.

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