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Ruhan Karakul: Instruments for the Prevention of Racist Election

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Ruhan Karakul: Instruments for the Prevention of Racist Election ANTIGYPSYISM IN PUBLIC DISCOURSES AND ELECTION CAMPAIGNS Central Council of German Sinti and Roma Heidelberg, 2017 3 RUHAN KARAKUL | INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF RACIST ELECTION PROPAGANDA RUHAN KARAKUL, CENTRAL COUNCIL OF GERMAN SINTI AND ROMA INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF RACIST ELECTION PROPAGANDA The 2013 election campaign of the NPD (National Democratic Party of Germany) was characterised by racist election posters which were particularly targeted against Sinti and Roma. The efforts of civic organi- sations, activists and local politicians to curb the racist election campaign by political and legal means largely failed. As an increasing number of right-wing extremist and right-wing populist players are using racist statements to promote their inhuman politics, the question must be raised of the extent to which politicians and the judiciary have confronted the issues and taken appropriate steps on the basis of past experience. In particular, serious thought must be given to whether and to what extent it is at all possible to prevent a potentially racist election campaign. This article will start by showing the political developments since 2013 and then give a brief outlook. SYMPOSIUM “BOUNDARIES IN THE POLITICAL DEBATE” The public relations work of the Central Council and the numerous discussions which were held during the election campaign by representatives of the Central Council on all political levels with regard to the preven- tion of racist electioneering sparked a wide-ranging debate amongst politicians and the general public. On 16th December 2014, there was a symposium with the title “Boundaries in the Political Debate”, which was hosted by the Federal Ministries of the Interior and of Justice and Consumer Protection, as well as the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BpB). As well as the federal ministers Heiko Maas and Dr Thomas de Maizière, the President of the BpB Thomas Krüger and the former judge of the German Constitutional Court Prof. Udo Di Fabio took part. FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AND CON- FERENCE OF THE STATE JUSTICE MINISTERS At the 86th Conference of the State Justice Ministers, there was a discussion of how to deal with a racist and discriminatory election campaign in item II.18 of the agenda. In a resolution, the justice ministers condemned the fact that resentment against minorities is repeatedly stirred up in a cynical and irresponsible manner and exploited for a party’s own election campaign purposes. In view of this, the Federal Ministry of Justice commissioned a report which examined the question of the extent to which the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) of the United Nations can be used for proceeding against racist election advertising. The report was prepared by Prof. Stefanie Schmahl, Chair for German and Foreign Public Law, Public International Law and European Law at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg and put online on the website of the Federal Ministry of Justice. The academic report obtained was discussed in the agenda item at the 87th Conference of the State Justice 39 RUHAN KARAKUL | INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF RACIST ELECTION PROPAGANDA Ministers. The justice ministers noted that the report lists arguments for being able to use the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) of the United Nations, which applies in Germany with the status of a federal law, in order to take action against racist election campaigns. LEGAL REPORT ON DEALING WITH APPLICABILITY OF INTERNATIONAL THE RACIST ELECTION CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS FOR GERMAN LEGAL POSTERS OF THE NPD – DISPUTES? Human rights treaties which Germany A SUMMARY has signed are part of the German legal system due to the provisions of the Basic Law. The constitutional law conveys the 1 provisions of international law into the do- The legal report can be retrieved on the mestic legal system via the “bridge” of website of the Ministry of Justice and Art. 59 (2) Sentence 1 Basic Law (GG). Consumer Protection. The following de- Many provisions of the treaties are formu- scription only aims to act as a simplified lated sufficiently precisely and definitely summary and, therefore, does not meet to be directly legally applicable. Even with the criteria of an academic paper. For a regard to the interpretation and applica- well-founded scientific discussion, you tion of police law, international commit- are recommended to read the original re- ments which Germany has entered into port. must be taken into consideration as part of the legal system. The posters were taken down in local communities on the basis of the blan- PROHIBITION OF RACIST PROPA- ket clause in police law. This allows GANDA IN THE INTERNATIONAL PRO- emergency measures to be adopted TECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS when there is a concrete risk to public order and security (for example an in- The prohibition of racial discrimination is fringement of legislation). Local politi- a core element of the international pro- cians who had issued a decree to have tection of human rights. The international the posters taken down, on the basis human rights treaties consider even of the blanket clause in police law, damage to the general feeling of peace were forced by the court to hang them and security of the injured group of per- up again. The administrative courts sons to be so significant that it has to be justified their decision in particular countered with prohibitions. The Interna- with the argument that the offence of tional Convention on the Elimination of All incitement to hatred (Section 130 Ger- Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), man Criminal Code (StGB)) had not the International Covenant on Civil and been committed. Regulations from Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Euro- conventions on human rights which pean Convention on Human Rights have been ratified by Germany were (ECHR) are particularly important. not taken into account in connection with this. 1 Prof. Stefanie Schmahl: Rechtsgutachten über den Um- available: http://www.bmjv.de/DE/Themen/Menschen- gang mit rassistischen Wahlkampfplakaten der NPD er- rechte/GutachtenWahlwerbung/GutachtenWahlwer- stattet am 24. Oktober 2015 im Auftrag des Bundesminis- bung_node.html teriums der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz, online 40 RUHAN KARAKUL | INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF RACIST ELECTION PROPAGANDA ICERD and ICCPR freedoms set forth in the Convention or at their limitation to a greater extent than is Racist propaganda is a specific variation provided for in the Convention”. There- of the forms of racial discrimination pro- fore, no one who is calling for the funda- hibited in accordance with the treaties on mental and human rights of certain human rights. The forms of action prohib- groups of people to be curtailed can in- ited by the ICERD include spreading voke the freedom of expression. ideas which are based on the superiority of one race or on racial hatred (Art.4 lit. a PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINA- ICERD), as well as organised or other TION VS. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION propaganda activities which promote or AND POLITICAL PARTIES incite racial discrimination (Art. 4 lit. b ICERD). The prohibitions laid down in The German Constitutional Court as- Art. 4 ICERD are addressed to the signa- sumes that the freedom of expression tories of the Convention. Art. 20 (2) IC- and the resulting contention between CPR expressly obliges the signatories to opinions is “an essential part” of a free prohibit by law any propagation of na- democratic order. In democratic states, tional, racial or religious hatred that con- speech that shocks should, in principle, stitutes incitement to discrimination, hos- be answered by contradiction or other in- tility or violence. tellectual means and not by state regula- tion. The power of free public discussion The prohibitions laid down in Art. 20 (2) is the foundation of a democratic society ICCPR and in Art. 4 in conjunction with which relies upon the citizens forming Art. 2 (1) lit. b and lit. d ICERD unequivo- and strengthening their critical faculties cally call on the signatories to not only re- by engaging with different opinions. In frain from spreading a racist ideology this respect, controversial and objection- themselves, but also to ensure an end to able minority views, in particular, which attacks by private individuals who de- the majority finds unacceptable, even grade, stigmatise or ostracise other peo- outrageous, must be subject to the pro- ple because of their ethnic origins. Racist tection of the freedom of expression. remarks by private individuals trigger an obligation to act on the part of the state, However, not all barriers can be dropped. which must aim at eradicating any incite- The expression of an opinion which aims ment to discrimination through the dis- at diminishing a person or a group of peo- semination of racist ideas. ple because of their ethnic origins or other unchangeable characteristics and ECHR AND EUROPEAN CASE LAW to deny them the basic right to human rights is not acceptable. Racial agitation Neither the primary law of the EU nor the negates the civility of people’s dealings text of the ECHR contain explicit prohibi- with one another and counteracts the en- tions of racist propaganda. In accordance titlements to equal treatment and equal with the guidelines laid down by the Eu- participation which are guaranteed by hu- ropean Court of Justice in the “Feryn” man rights. The public expression of this judgement (judgement of 10th July 2008, kind of degrading and defamatory slogan Rs. C-54/07), however, the EU member is likely to reinforce prejudices and intol- states are obliged to make provision for erance; it prepares the ground for exclu- effective and dissuasive sanctions even sion of the victims of the attacks from for racist remarks which do not relate to a communicative interaction and social in- specifically identifiable person.
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