Trial of Lina E.

During the early 2020s, links between the German state and the far-right have attracted significant controversy, such as the 2022 German coup d'état plot by the Reichsbürger movement, where several of those arrested for the plot were active military personnel, and the case of Jens Maier, a designated far-right extremist who had applied to become a judge in 2022.[1]

In 2022, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution released a report saying that there had been a significant rise in far-left extremism in Germany, with violence directed "primarily at the police and right-wing extremists" and linking far-left extremism to climate protest groups. The Federal Criminal Police Office's annual report that same year stated there had been a drop in cases attributed to left-wing extremism in 2022, and a 16% increase in cases attributed to far-right extremism.[5] German police found that 23,493 registered crimes were attributable to the far right in 2022, with 6,976 crimes attributed to the far left in the same year.[3]

Lina E. was a student from Kassel who was studying social work in Leipzig, in eastern Germany, with a focus on preventing far-right radicalization among youth.[1] According to Deutsche Welle, she had become politicized following the National Socialist Underground murders in the 2000s and the subsequent trial, which had sparked significant controversy surrounding links between German intelligence services and the far-right.[1] Her group was accused of carrying out six attacks against far-right targets in Saxony and Thuringia between 2018 and 2020. Lina was determined to be the head of the group, which the court ruled to be a "criminal organization".[2]

The attacks were highly organized. The group used fake IDs, wigs, stolen equipment, and burner phones to evade capture.[6] The violence included two attacks against Leon Ringl, a known far-right extremist.[1][4] Ringl was attacked first in late 2019 at an Eisenach pub known to be frequented by neo-Nazis. He was beaten with hammers and batons, and was attacked again weeks later near his car. In January 2021, the same pub was attacked again using an explosive device, which resulted in no injuries. The pub's facade was sprayed with graffiti saying, in English, "Fight Nazis every Day". Ringl replaced the graffiti with another saying "We're staying here!" (German: Wir bleiben!).[4]

An individual in Connewitz, Leipzig, named Tobias N. was attacked with hammers and suffered a broken skull, the treatment of which required surgery and metal plates. He was wearing a hat with far-right symbolism. He later claimed that he was no longer active in the far-right scene, and that the hat was an old part of his wardrobe.[7][6][3]

Another attack in 2020 involved around 20 members of Lina's group. During this incident, six individuals were attacked during a ceremony commemorating the Dresden bombings, an event often attended by the German far-right. The attack resulted in several serious injuries due to beatings and baton attacks by the assailants.[8][9]

Lina E. was arrested on 5 November 2020, and had remained in custody up to the verdict.[9] The trial of Lina E. lasted for almost 100 days. Ringl, as well as a state informant within the group known as Johannes D., served as chief witnesses.[1] The prosecutor sought for a sentence of eight years' imprisonment.[10]

On 31 May 2023, the last day of the trial, Lina was greeted by spectators with applause and cheers. Hans Schlüter-Staats, the Higher Regional Court of Dresden judge overseeing the trial, stated that "opposing right-wing extremists is a respectable motive" and that there had been "deplorable" deficiencies in recent trials of far-right extremists, but that she has still committed serious crimes and that the legitimate monopoly on violence belonged to the state, not to private individuals. He announced that the court had reached a guilty verdict and sentenced the defendant to five years and three months in jail.[11] Upon the announcement of the verdict, spectators shouted slogans against the court, such as "[you are] friends of fascists!" (German: Faschofreunde!) and "fuck class justice!" (German: Scheiß Klassenjustiz!), which prompted the judge to announce a 15-minute break.[11]

Following the verdict, Lina E. was released, pending appeal. A second decision to affirm or overturn the sentence can take a year and a half. Her passport was confiscated to eliminate flight risk.[11]

Germany's Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, said that the government will act decisively against any left-wing violence following the verdict.[8] She argued that there exists no place for vigilante justice in a democratic constitutional state.[3]

Lina's defense lawyers claimed that the trial was politically motivated, and called for her to be acquitted.[9] Green Youth chairman Timon Dzienus questioned the verdict. He tweeted:

A completely exaggerated process based on questionable evidence is being used with all severity against Lina E. and other leftists. What nonsense—that's why FreeLina![11]

This comment drew criticism by members from the Christian Democratic Union party.[11]

The far-right Alternative for Germany party welcomed the verdict, accusing Lina E. of terrorism, and called for a longer sentence for the defendants.[8] Jochen Kopelke, head of the Gewerkschaft der Polizei, condemned Lina E.'s release pending appeal, stating that "it was clear to us as officers that we would also be the focus of extremists."[12] Several media outlets drew comparisons between Lina E.'s group and the Red Army Faction.[13]