Björn Höcke found guilty of downplaying Nazi crimes
German far-right leader Björn Höcke has been found guilty of downplaying Nazi crimes.
The verdict in Höcke's trial comes months before a regional election in the eastern state of Thuringia, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is expected to perform strongly.
Höcke, a former history teacher, had denied knowing the phrases roots in Nazi ideology, but the court found him guilty of using language that was "clearly intended to trivialize the crimes of National Socialism." The court also found that Höcke had used the phrase "1,000-year Reich" in a way that glorified the Nazi regime.
Höcke has been a leading figure in the AfD since its foundation in 2013. He has been criticized for his anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic views, and has been accused of having links to neo-Nazi groups.
The verdict in Höcke's trial is likely to further damage the AfD's reputation, which has already been tarnished by a series of scandals. The party is currently polling at around 10% in national polls, but it is expected to perform strongly in the upcoming regional election in Thuringia.
The verdict is a victory for those who have been campaigning against the rise of the far-right in Germany. It sends a clear message that there is no place for Nazi ideology in modern Germany.
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