German pop singer fined for performing Nazi salute
A German court has ordered singer Melanie Muller to pay €80,000 ($89,000) in relation to a prohibition on unconstitutional or terrorist symbols. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Melanie Muller has been ordered to pay €80,000 ($89,000) due to her illegal gesture.
A German court has imposed a significant fine on pop star and former reality TV figure Melanie Muller for performing a Nazi salute during a concert, in addition to being found in possession of illegal drugs.
On Friday, a district court in Leipzig ruled that Muller must pay €80,000 (approximately $89,000) for her offenses, which is more than 14 times greater than the €5,700 fine sought by prosecutors.
A journalist from the German tabloid Bild reported that Muller was “shocked” by the ruling and needed some time to collect herself.
The charges against the singer, known for her participation in shows such as The Bachelor and Pool Champions, originated from her concert in Leipzig in September 2022. During this performance, she was seen raising her right arm multiple times in a manner resembling the Nazi salute. Such gestures, along with symbols related to Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist party, are prohibited in Germany.
Muller’s legal team contended that she does not hold any right-wing beliefs and was merely trying to energize the audience by pumping her fist and chanting slogans.
However, Judge Lucas Findeisen dismissed the defense's claims, concluding that the evidence clearly showed Muller had aligned herself with the right-wing atmosphere of the event, engaging in illegal gestures and chanting the Nazi phrase “Sieg, Heil” alongside the crowd.
The judge also found no merit in Muller’s assertion that the cocaine and ecstasy discovered during a search of her apartment were the property of a friend.
During the trial, Muller’s lawyers voiced concerns that negative media coverage had adversely affected her career and expressed hopes that an acquittal would enable the 36-year-old to “regain her footing in Germany.”
Muller mentioned that she used to perform frequently in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as in Mallorca, a Spanish island favored by German tourists. “Now I only have gigs in Mallorca. Everything else is gone,” she lamented.
The Leipzig court's judgment is not final and may be appealed.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
A German court has imposed a significant fine on pop star and former reality TV figure Melanie Muller for performing a Nazi salute during a concert, in addition to being found in possession of illegal drugs.
On Friday, a district court in Leipzig ruled that Muller must pay €80,000 (approximately $89,000) for her offenses, which is more than 14 times greater than the €5,700 fine sought by prosecutors.
A journalist from the German tabloid Bild reported that Muller was “shocked” by the ruling and needed some time to collect herself.
The charges against the singer, known for her participation in shows such as The Bachelor and Pool Champions, originated from her concert in Leipzig in September 2022. During this performance, she was seen raising her right arm multiple times in a manner resembling the Nazi salute. Such gestures, along with symbols related to Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist party, are prohibited in Germany.
Muller’s legal team contended that she does not hold any right-wing beliefs and was merely trying to energize the audience by pumping her fist and chanting slogans.
However, Judge Lucas Findeisen dismissed the defense's claims, concluding that the evidence clearly showed Muller had aligned herself with the right-wing atmosphere of the event, engaging in illegal gestures and chanting the Nazi phrase “Sieg, Heil” alongside the crowd.
The judge also found no merit in Muller’s assertion that the cocaine and ecstasy discovered during a search of her apartment were the property of a friend.
During the trial, Muller’s lawyers voiced concerns that negative media coverage had adversely affected her career and expressed hopes that an acquittal would enable the 36-year-old to “regain her footing in Germany.”
Muller mentioned that she used to perform frequently in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as in Mallorca, a Spanish island favored by German tourists. “Now I only have gigs in Mallorca. Everything else is gone,” she lamented.
The Leipzig court's judgment is not final and may be appealed.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
