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Munich Opens Probe Into Journalist Jan Fleischhauer Over Alleged Use of Banned Nazi Slogan

Prosecutors are assessing whether an ironic podcast remark falls outside the law’s media and satire exceptions.

Overview

  • An investigation is underway in Munich under §86a StGB, triggered by a police notice citing a December episode of Jan Fleischhauer’s podcast Der schwarze Kanal.
  • While discussing the AfD’s new youth group, he asked whether it might be called “Generation Deutschland erwache,” invoking a prohibited Nazi slogan.
  • A letter from Kriminalfachdezernat 4 orders him to respond and states that penalties could reach three years in prison or a fine.
  • Fleischhauer has hired a lawyer, requested access to the case file, and says no search was conducted as he disputes the police’s stated time and location of the alleged offense.
  • In a follow-up podcast, he addressed the case, speculated that a tipoff may have prompted it, and pointed to the Norbert Bolz precedent that was discontinued after a payment.