No Charges Against Left-Wing Councilor for Police-Hostile Slogan
Published: Thursday, Jul 13th 2023, 10:40
تم التحديث في: الجمعة، 13 أكتوبر 2023، الساعة 14:12:14
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The Waadtland State Prosecutor has decided not to press charges against Grossrätin Mathilde Marendaz, a left-wing politician who had come under fire for a police-hostile slogan. The prosecutor's office stated that for crimes such as defamation, slander or insult, the injured party must be identified or identifiable, but the slogan ACAB ("All cops are bastards") referred to "all police officers" and not directly to the complainants. General Prosecutor Eric Kaltenrieder also noted that discrimination and incitement to hatred - a crime that is prosecuted ex officio - could not be taken into account as the police are not listed in the categories protected by the criminal code (race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation). In March, Marendaz had posted an Instagram photo of herself holding a sign that criticized the concrete industry and had the smaller inscription ACAB. This drew widespread and sharp criticism from two police associations and five active or retired police officers, who filed a complaint. Marendaz apologized and denied any call "to hate police officers as individuals". She clarified that she was instead criticizing the institution of the police and the violence it commits. The State Prosecutor's decision to not press charges was made public due to the special significance of the case, which had attracted attention beyond the canton of Waadt.
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