Far-right Junge Tat members face Zurich district court: 15 months in jail sought
Six members of Junge Tat stand accused of disrupting a drag reading and an LGBTQ+ church service. The public prosecutor's office is seeking custodial sentences.
Trial opens against Junge Tat in Zurich: group leaders remain silent in court
Six members of the far-right group Junge Tat appeared before Zurich district court on Friday. According to Google News CH — Crime (de), the indictment includes charges of discrimination, incitement to hatred, property damage, coercion and breach of the peace.
The Zurich public prosecutor's office is seeking 15 months in custody for each of the two group leaders, of which six months would be unconditional. Additional fines are also being sought for all six defendants.
Flags at the entrance, rally on the street
Shortly before the trial began, members of Junge Tat entered the court grounds with flags raised, on which they expressed their rejection of gender equality, among other things. According to the Tages-Anzeiger, around 200 people gathered outside the court building in district 4 for a counter-demonstration and chanted anti-fascist slogans.
In advance, the two leaders had published a ten-minute YouTube video in which they commented on the indictment. According to the NZZ, they described the indictment as "careless" and compared it to a "left-extremist scene publication".
Drag reading and LGBTQ+ church service disrupted
The defendants are accused of actions against progressive events in Zurich. In autumn 2022, members of the group are said to have blockaded and stormed a drag reading for children at Tanzhaus. Event organiser Brandy Butler was present at the trial opening.
Also in 2022, the defendants are said to have interrupted an LGBTQ+ church service at St. Paul's Church in district 4. They allegedly entered the church with a white cross bearing the words "No Pride Month". Further charges relate to confrontations at demonstrations and banner actions with discriminatory content.
Junge Tat continues to claim responsibility for the actions on its website. Regarding the drag event, it still describes it as a "perverse drag queen history lesson" and "decadent behaviour".
Defendants refuse to give evidence
The leaders remained silent in court: according to news agency Keystone-SDA, both refused to give any evidence. Online, they had stated that the acts they were accused of were covered by freedom of expression.
The Zurich public prosecutor emphasised at the trial opening, according to SRF News, that every person was entitled to hold views that others might find repugnant. The law, however, did not protect every means of enforcing these views. No one should be able to impose their position on others by force.
A verdict has not yet been delivered.
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)