Saxony-Anhalt: CDU Politician Acquitted of Incitement Charges Again - German CDU lawmaker Detlef Gürth acquitted again in hate speech retrial
A court in Saxony-Anhalt has cleared CDU lawmaker Detlef Gürth of incitement charges for the second time. The ruling follows a long legal battle over a controversial social media post he made in June 2024. Gürth had referred to Afghans as 'scum' after a knife attack in Wolmirstedt.
The case began when Gürth published a post on social media shortly after the June 2024 knife attack in Wolmirstedt. His words triggered legal action, leading to an initial trial. In March 2025, the Aschersleben district court first acquitted him of incitement.
The Naumburg Higher Regional Court later overturned that decision and ordered a retrial. Now, the Aschersleben court has again ruled in Gürth's favour, upholding his acquittal. The proceedings focused solely on the legal interpretation of his post, without wider public or political debate.
The latest verdict confirms Gürth's acquittal, ending the retrial process. The court's decision centres on whether his social media comment met the legal threshold for incitement. No further appeals have been announced at this stage.
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