A German far-right politician, Daniel Halemba, was arrested on suspicion of displaying Nazi symbols after the phrase "Sieg Heil" was heard coming from the headquarters of a fraternity to
which he belongs. Halemba, who had been elected to the Bavarian parliament earlier in the month, was detained just hours before gaining immunity as a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party when the parliament was sworn in. However, he was later released, as a judge ruled he was not a flight risk.
The 22-year-old politician is one of 32 AfD members elected, marking the party's best-ever election result in Bavaria, where it now holds the position of the largest opposition party in the state. Halemba faces charges of sedition and possessing banned symbols, and he is also under investigation for alleged collusion or suppression of evidence.
The police arrested Halemba after a raid on the Teutonia Prag student fraternity in Würzburg, where neighbors had reported hearing the banned Nazi slogan. He has denied the allegations and expressed his intention to participate in parliamentary proceedings.
The AfD, which has seen significant electoral gains, particularly in Bavaria, denounced the arrest as politically motivated. The party's success has positioned it as a leading opposition force in various regions, including Bavaria and Hesse, and it regularly ranks second in national polls. Germany's next federal election is scheduled for 2025. Photo by Cherubino, Wikimedia commons.