Freiburg youths punished for burning rainbow flags
Published: Thursday, Jan 4th 2024, 11:30
Back to Live Feed
Five young people from a group have been punished in Freiburg for stealing and burning rainbow flags last May. Rainbow flags are seen as a symbol of the diversity of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
The 17 to 18-year-olds from Fribourg were given a suspended sentence. They were found guilty of theft or aiding and abetting theft, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and damage to property, as the newspaper "La Liberté" reported on Thursday. She was able to view the penalty orders.
Individual sentences were commuted to community service. Two further proceedings are still pending.
On September 15, the cantonal police announced that they had identified a total of seven suspects who allegedly stole and destroyed four rainbow flags in Fribourg.
The city of Freiburg hoisted the flags on May 17 as part of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. According to the local authorities, the flags were intended to promote integration and acceptance of people's diversity.
The young people had posted pictures of the flag burning on social media. The police came to the conclusion that they had committed the act while drunk and under the influence of the group effect.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic