Austria, Germany open hate‑speech cases over chants to Gigi D'Agostino song

In June 2024 a video from a bar in Kampen on the island of Sylt showed four young Germans singing the extremist slogan “Deutschland den Deutschen, Ausländer raus” to the party hit “L’amour toujours”. German prosecutors opened hate‑speech investigations; three cases were dropped and one teenager received a penalty after also giving a Hitler salute.

The clip went viral and similar chants were reported at events across Austria. Following a parliamentary inquiry by Green MPs Lukas Hammer and Alma Zadić, the Austrian Justice Ministry disclosed at least 26 investigations in states including Vienna, St. Pölten, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck and others. Some resulted in convictions when a Hitler salute or “Sieg Heil” was performed, while many were dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence. The ministry noted the list is not exhaustive, highlighting ongoing challenges in consistent enforcement of hate‑speech laws in both countries.