Germany bans a far-right magazine for promoting hate, sparking a debate between press freedom and extremism.

Germany's top security official banned a far-right magazine called Compact, which is accused of promoting hate. The ban extends to the company that publishes it and a related film production company. Police conducted raids on properties connected to these organizations in four German regions, following orders from the Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

The Interior Minister described Compact as a key outlet for extremist right-wing views. She criticized the magazine for spreading hateful content against Jews, immigrants, and Germany's democratic system. Faeser emphasized that Germany would not tolerate ethnic discrimination when determining who belongs in the country.

Compact is led by a well-known far-right individual, Jürgen Elsässer, and includes a monthly magazine with a 40,000 circulation and an online video channel. Furthermore, it operates an online store selling various themed merchandise. The magazine has been in circulation since 2010 and is recognized by Germany's intelligence for its antisemitic and anti-minority content.

Germany expressed increasing concern over the rise of far-right influence, highlighted by the recent advances of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. This party recently secured 15.9% in the European Parliament election. The party's co-leaders criticized the ban on Compact as an attack on press freedom, accusing Faeser of misusing her powers to stifle opposing views.

Compact's main theme is to challenge the current German government and advocate for its overthrow. This viewpoint is prominently featured on their platform, fueling the official response and subsequent ban. This incident reflects broader tensions in Germany over the balance between freedom of expression and curbing hate speech and extremist content.