Germany: Radical magazine allowed again. Media freedom cited as argument

The ban was imposed by the German Ministry of the Interior in July 2024. At the time, the ministry classified the magazine as a “propaganda mouthpiece of the far right,” accusing it of inciting hatred against Jews, Muslims, and foreigners. A legal case is ongoing, with the government arguing that the publication poses a threat to the constitutional order.

Origin of the Issue

On July 16 last year, then-German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser banned the publication of the magazine Compact, along with the operations of its publisher and an affiliated production company. Faeser argued that the magazine functioned as a tool of anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigrant extremism, posing a threat to the democratic order.

A month later, the administrative court in Leipzig suspended the ban, stating that although the content violated human dignity, there were also elements protected by press freedom—raising doubts about the proportionality of the measures taken.

As a result, the magazine is currently allowed to resume operations. However, the legal case is still ongoing. The new government, led by Friedrich Merz, intends to continue the proceedings in order to prove that Compact indeed undermines the constitutional order.

The Debate Over a Fundamental Right

Article 5 of Germany’s Grundgesetz states that “everyone has the right to freely express and disseminate their opinions in speech, writing, and pictures, and to receive information freely from generally accessible sources.”

It further declares: “Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.”

The ongoing controversy surrounding the extremist publication represents a clash of core values: press freedom versus the protection of constitutional order and human dignity. While the authorities view the magazine as a tool of incitement and a threat to social stability, the court argues that the ban might be disproportionate.

A Radical Magazine

Compact is a publication often categorized as far-right, populist, and conspiratorial. The editorial team supports extremist parties and movements such as Alternative for Germany (AfD). It frequently criticizes the federal government, particularly mainstream parties like the CDU, SPD, and the Greens, and promotes anti-immigration and nationalist positions.