A German court has revoked a government-enforced ban on a far-right magazine, asserting that the evidence failed to meet the standards necessary to prohibit its publisher. Last year, Germany’s previous administration, under the leadership of then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, prohibited Compact magazine along with its publishing entity, Compact-Magazin GmbH. Faeser characterized the magazine as a “central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene,” accusing it of engaging in detestable activities against Jews, individuals with migration backgrounds, and the principles of parliamentary democracy.
In response to the ban, Compact contested the decision at the Federal Administrative Court. The court initially suspended the ban temporarily in August to allow a thorough review of the case. After a recent hearing, the court decided to completely overturn the ban. The court’s statement emphasized that Germany’s constitution protects freedom of the press and opinion, even when expressed by those who oppose freedom. It further indicated that a ban would only be warranted if the publisher’s unconstitutional activities were found to be significantly influential for the group, which was not the case upon reviewing the evidence.
The magazine is managed by Jürgen Elsässer, a well-known figure in far-right circles, and is responsible for producing its monthly publication, which has a circulation of approximately 40,000. Additionally, Compact operates an online video platform called Compact TV and maintains an online shop offering books, CDs, DVDs, and other products. Since its inception in 2010, Compact has maintained its presence in the media landscape.
The 2023 annual report issued by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency noted that the magazine consistently distributes content laden with antisemitism, anti-minority rhetoric, historical revisionism, and conspiracy theories. The rising influence of the far-right movement has been an increasing area of concern within Germany over the past few years, prompting serious attention and action from governmental and societal bodies alike.