An “Aryan” merchant was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in Dusseldorf for insulting a Jewish lawyer.
The sentence is the sequel to an action brought by a Jewish firm against a “Aryan” firm. Dr. Goldberg, a Jewish war veteran who had been awarded the Iron Cross for bravery at the front, appeared for the Jewish concern. The defendant, Heinrich Hahn, adopted the tactics of openly insulting the Jewish lawyer in court, who thereupon brought a libel action against him.
In sentencing Hahn for libel, the court gave the following grounds for its verdict: “The insulted Jewish lawyer is a member of the German bar. Libel against him must therefore be dealt with severely. In addition, the insulting remark might do the lawyer much personal harm.” The court ordered the verdict to be published in full in the press.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
