leftwing group wishes to see churches burning- is this hate speech?

In Germany a leftist group known as "Antifa Freiburg" has published a blog last December which said We will not give up hope that there will be a miracle and we can warm ourselves next year at the glow of burning churches", local Christians complained to the German government because they were afraid that the blog might be inciting violence against their churches. The Public Prosecutor started an inquiry but then dropped the case after determining that the post was "tasteless" but not a violation of criminal law and because the blog is published by a server in Iceland.

Antifa Freiburg later also published a statement that called for people to set fire on the premises of the website www.kath.net (which had previously reported on their other post).

So are blog posts like this merely offensive free-speech or do they encourage violence (i.e. in this case arson)?

I don't believe in the term "hate speech". So no. It's speech that certain groups dislike. Same goes the other way. Churches have very specific language about non believers and gays for example. I don't consider those hate speech either.DevilMightCry

[QUOTE="DevilMightCry"]I don't believe in the term "hate speech". So no. It's speech that certain groups dislike. Same goes the other way. Churches have very specific language about non believers and gays for example. I don't consider those hate speech either.whipassmt

I tend to agree. Generalized hate speech against a person or group should fall under free speach, unless there is some defined threat involved. There is absolutely no need to destroy property to prove a point.

Technically yes but with that said, I don't support the idea of having laws restricting hate speech since it's against the first amendment and there's no clear definition of what hate speech is. I mean, if an atheist criticizes religion as a barbaric institution, that could be labeled as hate speech and that person could be prosecuted.

And there's a huge difference between hate speech and yelling "bomb" in a theater. One meaning is pretty obvious and the other can mean anything.

Nice to see leftists are as extreme as the right. Sometimes it just seems like the pvssies vs the big boss :lol:lo_Pine

Most communists, socialists, and anarchists (which is what these guys seem to be) don't consider liberals to be leftists anyway.

Technically yes but with that said, I don't support the idea of having laws restricting hate speech since it's against the first amendment leviathan91

Yeah, not really sure that the 1st Amendment applies to a German group using a server in Iceland.

[QUOTE="lo_Pine"]Nice to see leftists are as extreme as the right. Sometimes it just seems like the pvssies vs the big boss :lol:white_wolf922

Most communists, socialists, and anarchists (which is what these guys seem to be) don't consider liberals to be leftists anyway.

My experience with these so called "Antifa" (anti-fascist) over the net have left me less than inspired. They're mostly comprised of pretentious commie wannabe hipsters.

And I gotta say, the site the TC linked to seems really objective and totally not persuing any particular agenda.

And I gotta say, the site the TC linked to seems really objective and totally not persuing any particular agenda.

worlock77

[QUOTE="leviathan91"]

Technically yes but with that said, I don't support the idea of having laws restricting hate speech since it's against the first amendment worlock77

Yeah, not really sure that the 1st Amendment applies to a German group using a server in Iceland.

Oh right, I forgot America wasn't the only country in this world. Well in general, I'm opposed to it but in Germany's case, I honestly can't say much. They already have hate speech laws (Holocaust denial, Jews, etc) and that's because of their past during the 1930s and 40s.

[QUOTE="white_wolf922"]

[QUOTE="lo_Pine"]Nice to see leftists are as extreme as the right. Sometimes it just seems like the pvssies vs the big boss :lol:lo_Pine

Most communists, socialists, and anarchists (which is what these guys seem to be) don't consider liberals to be leftists anyway.

I wouldn't consider them hooligans just because they are socialists.

Not sure if it's hate speech. I think it needs to be directed to a person or group and burning down a chuch isn't necessarily threatening any humans.

My experience with these so called "Antifa" (anti-fascist) over the net have left me less than inspired. They're mostly comprised of pretentious commie wannabe hipsters.

ScorpionTroll

The loving tolerance of the left at display? Why don't they say that about mosques? too cowardly.

Not sure if it's hate speech. I think it needs to be directed to a person or group and burning down a chuch isn't necessarily threatening any humans.

BuryMe

[QUOTE="ScorpionTroll"]

My experience with these so called "Antifa" (anti-fascist) over the net have left me less than inspired. They're mostly comprised of pretentious commie wannabe hipsters.

whipassmt

[QUOTE="whipassmt"]

[QUOTE="ScorpionTroll"]

My experience with these so called "Antifa" (anti-fascist) over the net have left me less than inspired. They're mostly comprised of pretentious commie wannabe hipsters.

ScorpionTroll

The far left is just as moronic and annoying as the far right. This is why I am independent.

But it is important to realise that this does not represent all liberals just like a small group does represent all conservatives.

The far left is just as moronic and annoying as the far right. This is why I am independent.

But it is important to realise that this does not represent all liberals just like a small group does represent all conservatives.

ShadowMoses900

[QUOTE="ScorpionTroll"]

[QUOTE="whipassmt"] Not to mention that Antifa is in someways similar to the fascists (for instance I could totally see fascists making provocative statements about burning buildings).

whipassmt

The loving tolerance of the left at display? Why don't they say that about mosques? too cowardly.

Philokalia

Meh, seems pretty excessive to me. I'm not in Germany and I don't really understand the situation, or why anyone would really be talking about burning churches. Is their anything in particular these churches had done to warrant this kind of outburst? For example a controversial event or public display? Or are these people just wanting to see them burn, becuse they're well, churches?

If by "hate speech," you mean that it is hateful? Possibly, but I have not read into the specific text. Should it be legally suppressed if it is hateful? No.

[QUOTE="whipassmt"]

[QUOTE="ScorpionTroll"]Meat eaters and Christians are fascists. Me must ban them because banning things isn't fascist at all. :P

ScorpionTroll

"We will not give up hope that there will be a miracle and we can warm ourselves next year at the glow of burning churches"

My sides.