Germany's highest court in Karlsruhe – the Federal Constitutional Court – has agreed to hear a petition from all 16 states to prohibit and disband the neo-Nazi NPD, which the domestic intelligence agency (Verfassungsschutz) has labeled "revisionist and anti-Semitic". The World Jewish Conference has come out in favor of banning the party:
Banning the NPD has long been a demand endorsed by the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Its president, Josef Schuster, on Monday welcomed the court's move, saying that a ban on the party "would be a very important step in the fight against right-wing extremism and a significant contribution to the stability of our democracy."
World Jewish Congress Holocaust Memory Commissioner Charlotte Knobloch also welcomed the decision by the Constitutional Court but called it "excruciating" that so much time had been allowed to pass. "The Nazi ideology, on which the NPD is based, must have no place in today's political culture in Germany," and the NPD should not be allowed to benefit any longer from state subsidies and other privileges afforded to political parties in Germany. "We cannot and must not tolerate the existence of any extreme right-wing political party in Germany," Knobloch declared.
Writing in Der Spiegel, Christina Hebel also supports banning the extremist group, referencing the violent attacks against migrants in Germany:
Allein die vergangenen Monate sollten Mahnung genug sein. Die Krawalle in Heidenau, die Hetze gegen Bürgermeister, die sich für Flüchtlinge einsetzen wie in Tröglitz, Brandanschläge auf Asylbewerberheime – der Hass bricht sich immer hässlicher Bahn, die Wut, Pöbeleien und Gewalt auf den Straßen, im Internet, sie sind so alltäglich geworden – auch weil NPD-Anhänger oft mitmischen.
Der Staat muss hier entschieden Grenzen setzen, sonst wird es mehr solcher Angst-Gegenden wie im mecklenburg-vorpommerischen Jamel geben, wo die Rechtsextremen längst Oberhand haben.
I can certainly understand and sympathize with sentiment: the thuggish NPD is an ugly reminder of Germany's past. But what would a ban accomplish? Would the violence against migrants, against journalists, against mainstream political leaders diminish? Would the hate speech on Facebook or at the Pegida marches become less prevalent? The NPD polls only about 1-2% nationally – wouldn't the members simply migrate to the right-wing AfD Party, pulling it even further to the right? Banning the NPD could even be damaging to internal security, since the NPD is currently infiltrated with undercover domestic intelligence agents who can key an eye on the party's activities.
But the best argument against banning the NPD is that a prohibition would diminish Germany's vibrant democracy. Interesting to read the comments in the forum to Christina Hebel's opinion piece in Der Spiegel. The comments are running 3 to 1 against a ban. Here is one I especially like from reader "Yves Martin":
Voltaire sagte schon vor über 200 Jahren: "Ich verachte Ihre Meinung, aber ich gäbe mein Leben dafür, dass Sie sie sagen dürfen." Eine Demokratie, die sich nicht anders zu helfen weiss, als unliebsame Meinungen zu unterdrücken, ist keine (mehr). Auch der ultrarechte Rand des Meinungsspektrums repräsentiert Bürger dieses Landes. Damit muss sich jeder aufrechte Demokrat auseinandersetzen. Meist erledigt sich das Problem doch sowieso von allein: Dort, wo ultrarechte Politiker in Parlamente gewählt wurden, haben sie sich regelmässig selbst durch Untätigkeit und/oder Unfähigkeit disqualifiziert. Aber die Verbotskeule zu schwingen ist das Gegenteil von Demokratie – dann erklärt sich der rechte Rand eben zu Märtyrern und geht in den Untergrund. Ich frage mich: Was käme nach einem NPD-Verbot als nächstes? Ein Verbot, den menschengemachten Klimawandel zu bestreiten, die aktuelle Politik zu kritisieren, selbst zu denken oder für eine Sache zu demonstrieren? Millionen von Menschen sind in Kriegen für die freiheitlich-demokratische Grundordnung gestorben, in der wir seit 70 Jahren leben dürfen. Seltsam, dass die übersatte "Generation Hosenscheisser" sich plötzlich wieder nach Verboten und staatlichen Eingriffen in die Meinungsfreiheit sehnt.
("Over 200 years ago Voltaire said:"I despise your opinion, but I'd give my life for your right to express it." A democracy that feels forced to suppress unwelcome opinions isn't one any longer. And even the right-wing extreme fringe represents citizens of this country. Any self-respecting democrat needs to engage against this. In most cases the problem is solved on its own: in those cases where right-wing extremist politicians are voted into office they tend to disqualify themselves through their inaction or incompetence. But imposing a prohibition is the opposite of democracy. Then the right-wing fringe will declare themselves as martyrs and just go underground. Ask yourself: what happens next after a ban on the NPD? A ban on climate change deniers, on those who criticize the current policies, thinking for themselves or demonstrating for a cause? Millions have died in wars fighting for the free democratic constitutional order which we have enjoyed for the past 70 years.)
Banning the NPD is a slippery slope with an uncertain ending. Where could it potentially lead? I recommend looking to east to Putin's Russia as a potential outcome.
