Vice President J.D. Vance was right. Back in February, Vance lectured Germans and Europeans over the retreat of their most fundamental values, including freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and free and fair elections. J.D. Vance called out Germany in a room full of Germans at the Munich Security Conference,
“This very country, where police have carried out raids against citizens suspected of posting anti-feminist comments online as part of ‘combating misogyny’ on the internet.”
This lecture shocked the room of German elites and brought the conference chairman to tears
Vice President Vance: “There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that, if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet? Of course they’re not.”
But, Vice President Vance was right.
In a move that’s already sparking outrage across Germany’s conservative media landscape, the District Court of Bamberg (Upper Franconia/Bavaria) handed down a suspended seven-month prison sentence to Deutschland-Kurier Editor-in-Chief David Bendels earlier today (April 7, 2025). The reason? A satirical meme.
The court found Bendels guilty of publishing a digitally altered image mocking Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) back in February 2024 on the DK’s X (formerly Twitter) account. The meme shows Faeser holding up a white sign that reads: “I hate freedom of speach”—a blunt piece of satire aimed at what critics describe as the minister’s increasingly authoritarian stance toward the press.
Despite the image being obviously satirical, and Bendels having no prior convictions, the court imposed a seven-month sentence—suspended on probation—and even ordered him to issue a formal written apology to the acting interior minister. The verdict is not yet legally binding. Bendels and his legal team have already announced plans to appeal.
“We will not accept this ruling. We will fight it with every legal means available,” Bendels said immediately after the verdict. “The Deutschland-Kurier and I personally will continue the just and essential battle for freedom of the press and opinion in Germany—resolutely, unwaveringly, and with full force.”
The case draws striking parallels to a recent incident involving AfD member of European Parliament Petr Bystron, whose parliamentary immunity was lifted merely for reposting a photo of former Chancellor Angela Merkel waving—an image the authorities suddenly found problematic.
With these developments, critics argue that Germany is sliding into an era where satire and political dissent are no longer protected, but prosecuted.
More to come via Deutschland-Kurier. Stay tuned.
Nancy Faeser zerrt den Deutschland-Kurier vor Gericht. Solidarität mit David Bendels! #Pressefreiheit pic.twitter.com/heEqah3VV1
— Thorsten Weiß, MdA (@WeissAfD) April 7, 2025
The post J.D. Vance Was Right: Editor-in-Chief of Germany’s Right-Wing ‘Deutschland-Kurier’ Given Seven Month Prison Sentence for Posting Meme of Interior Minister Faeser Holding “I Hate Freedom of Speech” Sign appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.