{"id":26134,"date":"2024-01-29T13:30:54","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T12:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=26134"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:17:26","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T14:17:26","slug":"bill-censorship-zones-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/bill-censorship-zones-germany","title":{"rendered":"German government announces draft law introducing censorship zones around abortion-related facilities, fines up to 5,000\u20ac"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"26134\" class=\"elementor elementor-26134\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-552e188 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"552e188\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-41128a3\" data-id=\"41128a3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b93d4be elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"b93d4be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>Proposed bill would criminalize charity volunteers praying and offering help, including vague ban on words, signs, and messages that could be potentially \u201cconfusing\u201d   <\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b> Legal expert Dr. Felix B\u00f6llmann: \u201cAny form of harassment is obviously already forbidden. Peaceful prayer and offers of help, however, are strongly protected under the law\u201d. <\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dcb59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36dcb59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">BERLIN <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(29 January 2024) &#8211; A new draft bill, announced last week by Germany\u2019s Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Green Party), would introduce fines of up to 5,000\u20ac ($5,500) for peaceful expression on public streets near abortion-related facilities. The bill would seek to create nationwide censorship zones around the facilities, criminalising messages that could be subjectively understood as \u201cdisturbing\u201d or \u201cconfusing,\u201d with no legal clarity as to how those terms are to be interpreted. Harassment is already fully illegal, independent of the proposed new law, which would target peaceful expression. The Federal Cabinet approved the bill last week. It will now move through the Bundesrat (Federal Council), which can introduce amendments, followed by the legislative process, including three readings in the Bundestag (Parliament). <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The UK Parliament adopted \u201cbuffer zone\u201d legislation in 2023, expected to come into force throughout all of England and Wales soon. Existing zones under local laws already have resulted in numerous human rights violations including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/priest-legal-battle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">police interrogations<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adf.uk\/isabel-arrested-again\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">arrests<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adf.uk\/army-vet-pleads-not-guilty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">fines<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adf.uk\/support-adam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">criminal proceedings<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> for silent prayer on the public street near abortion facilities, essentially resulting in \u201cthought-crime\u201d prosecutions. Currently, army veteran <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adf.uk\/support-adam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Adam Smith-Connor<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is awaiting trial for silent prayer in Bournemouth, England.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Germany\u2019s proposed new law would be in direct contravention to a 2023 decision from the country\u2019s top administrative court upholding the freedom of assembly across the street from an abortion facility. The ruling affirmed the rights of<a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/german-court-freedom-of-assembly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Pavica Vojnovi\u0107 and her 40 Days for Life prayer group<\/a>, which conducted silent prayer vigils on the public street in Pforzheim, Germany. Such an exercise of basic human rights would likely run afoul of the proposed new legislation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cPeaceful gatherings, prayer and offers of help should never be banned. The plans of the German government are alarming\u2014not only do they put blanket restrictions on fundamental freedoms, but also they weaken civil society&#8217;s engagement for the protection of the <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/our-focus\/life-is-protected\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">right to life<\/a>. Any form of harassment is obviously forbidden. But censorship zones are not pro-choice, they are no-choice and have no place in a free and democratic society,\u201d said Dr. Felix B\u00f6llmann, German lawyer and Director of European Advocacy at ADF International. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Bill contradicts court rulings<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In recent years, ADF International has supported the legal defense of pro-life volunteers in Germany who exercised their right to pray peacefully, including in silence, in front of abortion-related facilities. Germany\u2019s top administration court confirmed that blanket bans on prayer gatherings are impermissible. According to the court, there is no &#8222;right to be buffered from dissenting opinions&#8220;. The new bill goes far beyond criminalising already illegal harassment to propose blanket bans on peaceful and fully legal activities such as prayer or offers of help. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The draft bill thus contradicts standing court ruling upholding freedom of assembly and free expression on the public street in the vicinity of an abortion-related facility absent manifest infringements of third party rights.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Restricting free expression supports abortion lobby<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cStanding law in Germany obliges the state and civil society to protect unborn life. Committed pro-life individuals must not be criminalized for the peaceful expression of their convictions. Every human being has dignity and a right to life, from the moment of conception. The state and citizens should work together to protect life. Instead, people with civil courage to uphold the fundamental right to life are now being deterred, and even potentially criminalised, for their commitment,&#8220; said Ludwig Br\u00fchl, German Communications Officer for ADF International.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8222;We stand with the right of every person, including peaceful pro-life advocates, to freely express their convictions. The freedoms of assembly, opinion, and religion benefit all people. That is why we are defending these core human rights from the encroaching plans of lobby organizations and ideologues,&#8220; concluded Dr Felix B\u00f6llmann.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b21697c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"b21697c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7b8bfa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7b8bfa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImages for free use in print or online in relation to this story only\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55326e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"55326e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Ludwig-von-Bruhl_480x600px-e1682427277936.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"f02176a\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Ludwig Von Bruhl 480x600px\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTY1NzcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyM1wvMDRcL0x1ZHdpZy12b24tQnJ1aGxfNDgweDYwMHB4LWUxNjgyNDI3Mjc3OTM2LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImYwMjE3NmEifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Ludwig-von-Bruhl_480x600px-e1682427277936.jpg\" data-width=\"480\" data-height=\"480\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Proposed bill would criminalize charity volunteers praying and offering help, including vague ban on words, signs, and messages that could be potentially \u201cconfusing\u201d Legal expert Dr. Felix B\u00f6llmann: \u201cAny form of harassment is obviously already forbidden. Peaceful prayer and offers of help, however, are strongly protected under the law\u201d. BERLIN (29 January 2024) &#8211; A [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":10052,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[130,64,70,27],"class_list":["post-26134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-europe","tag-freedom-of-speech","tag-germany","tag-religious-freedom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>German government announces draft law for censorship zones<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Proposed bill would criminalize charity volunteers praying and offering help, including vague ban on words, signs, and messages that could be \u201cconfusing\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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