German authorities conducted searches at the private residence and parliamentary office of René Dierkes, a state lawmaker from the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The raid happened early this morning in Bavaria, in what Dierkes described as a “political witch hunt” linked to satirical online content posted more than two years ago.
Dierkes, who chairs the AfD’s Munich-East branch and was elected to the Bavarian Landtag (state parliament) in October 2023, confirmed the raids in a public statement.
He said the warrant focused on posts from his X account, which he attributed to a former employee no longer associated with him.
These included “memes and satirical comments” now under scrutiny for alleged incitement to hatred and defamation.
Additionally, prosecutors cited an alleged insult from five years prior, reportedly made against a former party member.
Notably, Dierkes’ parliamentary immunity — a protection typically requiring approval from the state assembly before such actions — had not been lifted as the prosecutor made the searches under a “simplified procedure”.
The 49-year-old politician, a hardliner on migration, vowed to contest the proceedings.
“I will take action against this political witch hunt,” he stated, framing the incident as an attempt to intimidate critics of Germany’s migration policies.
Pressemeldung zur Hausdurchsuchung beim Landtagsabgeordneten René Dierkes
Heute Morgen fand in meiner Privatwohnung sowie in meinem Landtagsbüro eine Hausdurchsuchung statt. Hintergrund sind etwa zwei Jahre alte Postings auf meinem X-Account, die von einem Mitarbeiter verfasst… pic.twitter.com/Ev1mORVHPZ
— Rene Dierkes MdL (@ReneDierkesAfD) March 13, 2026
Fellow AfD figures expressed solidarity, with MP Maximilian Krah calling it an “intimidation through proceedings” over two-year-old posts.
Right-wing commentator Martin Sellner described Germany as a “democracy simulation”, suggesting that such actions would be labelled authoritarian if occurring in countries such as Hungary or Turkey.
The Munich I Public Prosecutor’s Office declared, at the request of news outlet Bild, that the allegations against the deputy weigh heavily: “The public prosecutor’s office in Munich I is being held against the accused D on suspicion of defamation, insult, incitement to the people and the approval of crimes.
“At the home address and in the premises of the accused D in the Bavarian state parliament, search measures were carried out today.”
The Bavarian prosecutor’s office has not yet released a detailed report of the seized materials and the investigation is ongoing. Dierkes could face fines or imprisonment if convicted, although appeals are common in such cases.
Dierkes has been under observation by the Bavarian constitutional protection office.
At the request of Greens and Socialists, the state government said in July 2025 that Dierkes made statements “in which an ethnic concept that violates human dignity is promoted” and in an “anti-constitutional manner” in calls for “remigration”.
Remigration has become a flashpoint in German politics, with the AfD positioning it as a solution to integration challenges, while opponents decry it as discriminatory.
German hate speech laws, enshrined in sections of the Criminal Code such as §130 (incitement to hatred) and §185 (insult), empower authorities to investigate and prosecute online content deemed to promote hostility against groups based on ethnicity, religion, or other protected characteristics.
These provisions have been strengthened in recent years amid concerns over rising online extremism, particularly following the 2015-2016 migrant influx.
Critics argue that enforcement has increasingly targeted political speech, especially from the Right, creating a chilling effect on public discourse.
This raid fits into a broader pattern of police actions against online expression in Germany.
In recent years, authorities have conducted annual “action days” against hate postings, raiding homes and seizing devices over social media content.
For instance, in November 2025, police targeted individuals for memes ridiculing Green Party politicians, including a pensioner arrested for sharing an image mocking Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck.
Similar operations have drawn international scrutiny, with media outlets documenting cases where armed officers confiscated electronics for posts carrying minimal engagement, such as a cartoon or critical remarks about government officials.
COMMENT: The German pensioner hounded for calling Chancellor Friedrich Merz “Pinocchio” made headlines last month, but there are in fact thousands of "hate speech" charges in Germany, almost none of which get reported, and the details of which remain shrouded in mystery, writes…
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 6, 2026
