German far-right politician to stand trial for incitement to hatred

A controversial member of Bavaria's state parliament from Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) will stand trial on numerous charges, including incitement to hatred and money laundering.

The District Court in the Bavarian city of Würzburg on Thursday upheld a series of charges brought by the public prosecutor's office against Daniel Halemba, 24. they also include damage to property, coercion, and attempted coercion.

The court said it has scheduled eight days of hearings for the trial in juvenile court, starting in January 2026. In Germany young adults can be tried in juvenile court under certain circumstances.

Prosecutors argue that the suspicion of incitement to hatred against the member of the state parliament charge is based on playing a song by the band Landser. The lyrics incite hatred against Turkish people living in Germany.

The band is classified as a criminal organization, and the song was played at Halemba's birthday party in July 2022. Halemba argues that he was not even present at the party at the time in question.

However, the court did not see sufficient grounds to proceed with a charge of using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, which the Würzburg public prosecutor's office had asked for. so that charge was not admitted.

Halemba was alleged to have displayed an SS order issued by Heinrich Himmler in 1939 in his room at a Würzburg fraternity house. However, the district court ruled that because he did not display the SS order in public, no criminal offence was committed.

Halemba has denied all the charges and said he expected to be acquitted. He criticized the timing of the trial in January, because it coincides with the local election campaign and plenary sessions of Bavaria's parliament. Until a final conviction, the presumption of innocence applies.