German court convicts AfD politician Wilko Möller for Nazi gesture on posters

The Regional Court in Frankfurt (Oder) has issued a verdict in the high-profile case of Wilko Möller, a member of the Brandenburg Landtag for Alternative for Germany (AfD). The court ruled that the politician knowingly allowed the publication of election materials containing gestures reminiscent of the Roman salute. The sentence amounts to a fine of 11,600 euros, equivalent to 80 daily rates. The case relates to the campaign ahead of the Brandenburg state parliament elections in 2024. The disputed posters depicted two individuals with their arms raised high, which the prosecution and court deemed a deliberate provocation. Möller's defense argued that the gesture was meant to symbolize a roof or community, but the judges did not accept this explanation. Notably, the advertising graphic designer who prepared the poster design under Möller's supervision was acquitted. The court found that the politician made the final decisions regarding the visual content. The verdict is not yet final, and the AfD party in Brandenburg immediately announced its intention to appeal. According to Möller's lawyer, Hans-Christoph Jahr, the ruling will not hold up in a higher court, as the interpretation of the gesture is overly broad. German criminal law (Paragraph 86a of the Criminal Code) strictly prohibits the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations, including swastikas and Nazi salutes, aimed at protecting democratic peace after the experiences of World War II. Möller's trial is being closely watched by the public, as the AfD in Brandenburg polls highly, despite the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifying its local structures as a far-right organization. The court emphasized that politicians bear particular responsibility for their visual language, especially when it borders on totalitarian symbols. „In our firm conviction, this decision will not withstand legal scrutiny.” — Hans-Christoph Jahr11 600 — euro fine the AfD politician must payVerdict of the Regional Court in Frankfurt: Wilko Möller: 11600, Graphic designer: 0Key stages of the case: September 2024 — Appearance of the disputed election posters; February 17, 2026 — Guilty verdict announced by the Regional Court; February 18, 2026 — Official announcement of appeal by AfDLiberal media emphasize that the verdict is a clear signal against the normalization of Nazi symbolism by the far right in Germany. | Conservative and right-wing sources question the verdict, suggesting the court overinterpreted the gesture for political purposes.