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German AfD MP under fire for anti-Muslim New Year tweets German AfD MPs under fire for anti-Muslim New Year's Eve messages
(about 2 hours later)
A German far-right politician is facing a criminal investigation over anti-Muslim comments made on New Year's Eve. Two German far-right politicians are being investigated by police over anti-Muslim messages on New Year's Eve.
Beatrix von Storch, deputy leader of the AfD party, had her Twitter account suspended on Monday over her inflammatory post. Beatrix von Storch, deputy leader of the AfD party, had her Twitter account temporarily suspended on Monday after posting an inflammatory message.
She accused Cologne police of appeasing "barbaric, gang-raping Muslim hordes of men" after they tweeted a New Year message in Arabic. She accused Cologne police of appeasing "barbaric, gang-raping Muslim hordes of men" after they tweeted a new-year message in Arabic.
Police have filed a complaint against her for incitement to hatred. Another politician is being investigated after supporting her.
Alice Weidel, one of the party's leaders, wrote on Facebook that authorities were submitting to "imported, marauding, groping, abusive, knife-stabbing migrant mobs".
Police say both women may be guilty of incitement to hatred. If so, they could face fines or a prison sentence.
Twitter and Facebook have deleted the posts.
AfD leaders called the actions censorship, saying the German authorities were acting like the Stasi in communist East Germany.
A new German law, which came fully into force on January 1st, means social media companies have to act against hate speech. Failure to do so could lead to fines of up to €5m ($6m; £4.4m)
Cologne prosecutors must now decide whether to launch an official inquiry.Cologne prosecutors must now decide whether to launch an official inquiry.
Ms Storch's remarks came after the city's police force tweeted New Year greetings in a number of languages, including English and French as well as German and Arabic.Ms Storch's remarks came after the city's police force tweeted New Year greetings in a number of languages, including English and French as well as German and Arabic.
Twitter suspended Ms Storch's account for 12 hours in response to her post, saying it had breached the site's rules.Twitter suspended Ms Storch's account for 12 hours in response to her post, saying it had breached the site's rules.
She then re-posted the same message on Facebook, where it was also blocked for reasons of incitement.She then re-posted the same message on Facebook, where it was also blocked for reasons of incitement.
The controversy comes only months after Germany enacted new hate speech laws.
The country will now enforce fines on social media sites which do not remove "obviously illegal" posts.
Ms Storch's party defended her comments, saying the removal of her remarks was a form of censorship.
Writing on Facebook, AfD leader Alice Weidel wrote that authorities were submitting to "imported, marauding, groping, abusive, knife-stabbing migrant mobs".
Cologne has been at the centre of a controversy over New Year's Eve celebrations since two years ago, when a large number of assaults against women - allegedly by men from migrant backgrounds - marred the festivities.Cologne has been at the centre of a controversy over New Year's Eve celebrations since two years ago, when a large number of assaults against women - allegedly by men from migrant backgrounds - marred the festivities.
The following year, police in the city came under criticism for questioning hundreds of men of North African descent.The following year, police in the city came under criticism for questioning hundreds of men of North African descent.
And on New Year's Eve 2017, a special "safety zone" for women was set up in Berlin for the first time. On New Year's Eve 2017, a special "safety zone" for women was set up in Berlin for the first time.