Published December 09, 2015
A German pastor due to stand trial for allegedly inciting violence at an anti-Nazi demonstration says authorities risk deterring people from standing up to right-wing extremists if he is convicted.
Prosecutors accuse Lothar Koenig of serious breach of the peace and other crimes at a protest in the eastern city of Dresden Feb. 19, 2011.
His trial starts Thursday; he faces several years in prison if convicted.
Koenig denies the charges and says he was part of a group trying peacefully to block thousands of neo-Nazis from commemorating German victims of Allied bombings in World War II.
The Lutheran pastor said Tuesday that, if he is found guilty, many in eastern Germany, where far-right groups are particularly active, would take it as a message from authorities to "not get involved."
https://www.foxnews.com/world/german-pastor-accused-of-inciting-violence-at-anti-nazi-protest-warns-trial-may-deter-activism