A Lawmaker From Germany's AfD Arrested for Displaying Nazi Symbols

 

Image Source: Al-Jazeera

Daniel Helmba, 22, was part of a community that was raided in September on suspicion of carrying Nazi symbols.

A newly elected lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been arrested on suspicion of carrying Nazi symbols.

German news agency DPA reported that 22-year-old Daniel Helmba was arrested in the Stuttgart area and is being investigated on suspicion of incitement and using symbols of an unconstitutional organization, prosecutors said.

The youngest politician to be elected to the Bavarian parliament, Halimba Teutonia is a member of the Prague student community.

It was raided in September on suspicion that its premises may contain Nazi insignia and racist documents. Authorities reported that contraband signs were discovered, while neighbors complained that calls for "Seg Hail" (Hail Victory) were heard.

The AfD announced on Friday that an arrest warrant had been issued for one of its deputies. The Public Prosecutor's Office then confirmed that Halimba was targeted.

Four other members of the community are also under investigation.

The prosecutor's office said the charges against the lawmaker were confirmed by further examination of the evidence. Halimba is expected to be brought before a judge in the city of Würzburg on Monday or Tuesday.

Halimba has denied all the allegations. His lawyer Dubravko Mundi insisted there was "no truth to any of the allegations".

During the October 8 state elections in Bavaria and neighboring Hesse, the AfD made significant gains. The anti-immigrant party came third in Bavaria with 14.6 percent of the vote.

In recent national elections, his support has been reported at around 20 percent.

Co-leader Alice Weddle said the results showed the party had the right to take part in government and would "undemocratically ignore further exclusion and discrimination for the electorate".

He added that the AfD "is no longer perceived as just a protest party", and that if the party comes second in the 2025 national elections, according to current public opinion rankings, it will Will claim to lead the country.

Members of Parliament in Germany have immunity. However, Halimba's immunity will not take effect until the Bavarian parliament meets for the first time since the election in a plenary session this afternoon.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)