Is the Stuttgart Public Prosecutor Attempting to Restrict Press Freedom?

Prosecutor Dr. Gräfe characterized the disclosure to the press as "completely atypical" and accused the court of publicly revealing its legal assessment prematurely. Prosecutor Eisele saw the press release as creating the risk of "predetermination," potentially preventing an independent judicial decision.

The District Court has rejected the prosecutor's motions alleging bias, emphasizing that transparency and openness of judicial proceedings are fundamental principles of the rule of law. The court stated that by publishing the information, it was merely fulfilling its obligations to inform the public.

An Attack on Press Freedom?

The prosecutor's accusations raise fundamental questions: Should courts be allowed to communicate transparently with the public—or should such transparency now be criminalized?

Michael Ballweg, founder of QUERDENKEN-711 and defendant in the case, stated: "Transparency is the oxygen of democracy. When a court attempts to maintain openness and is attacked by the prosecution for doing so, it represents an attack on press freedom and the rule of law itself."

QUERDENKEN-711 Calls for Clear Commitment to Press Freedom

Press freedom serves primarily to ensure transparency and to allow critical public scrutiny of state actions. When state institutions—such as the prosecutor's office—attempt to limit transparency, they threaten a core pillar of democracy. Press freedom guarantees the ability to openly communicate uncomfortable truths without fear of state repression. Those who attempt to prevent the disclosure of such information act against fundamental constitutional principles.

QUERDENKEN-711 therefore calls for a clear commitment to transparency and press freedom—especially from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which in Germany is organizationally part of the executive branch, acts as an investigative and prosecutorial authority, and is bound by instructions from its superior authority.

QUERDENKEN-711 explicitly emphasizes in its manifesto (https://querdenken-711.de/manifest/):

QUERDENKEN stands for personal responsibility, self-determination, love, peace, freedom, joy, and truth. Those who stand for peace stand for non-violence. Those who stand for love reject all forms of extremism, racism, and antisemitism, both implicitly and explicitly.