Court convicts FPÖ official for inhumane hate posting

Court convicts FPÖ official for inhumane hate posting

In a final judgment from the Mattersburg District Court on August 8, 2025, a Burgenland FPÖ official was convicted of her offensive statements on Facebook. Sebastian Bohrn Mena, who brought the lawsuit, described the inhumane comments as a violation of human dignity. The official had responded to death threats against Bohrn Mena and called him “horrible” and “dangerous,” with the absurd claim that she could send him “to a psychiatric hospital.” This legal dispute underlines how important it is to actively pursue and punish hatred and agitation on social media, as BVZ reports.

The lawyer Dr. Robert Kerschbaumer, who supports Bohrn Mena, emphasized that this type of verbal violence is dangerous and that political leaders should cultivate a culture of communication based on the rule of law. He agreed with Bohrn Mena, who announced that further proceedings against FPÖ officials would likely follow in the future. What is worrying is that the official had previously attracted attention for similar statements, such as in March 2023, when she commented on a posting that described the Greens as Nazis. Such incidents point to a larger problem that should not go unnoticed.

Hate comments on the internet

The affair surrounding the FPÖ official is just part of a broader issue: the spread of hate comments on the Internet, which is a major problem not only in Austria but also internationally. The married couple Sebastian and Veronika Bohrn Mena have already taken active action against hate comments on the Facebook pages of FPÖ politicians. Attorney Dr. Kerschbaumer supports them in taking legal action, which is necessary in many cases to combat comments such as “Euthanasia is now allowed, please can someone help him?” to proceed, as Heute reports.

Over 1,000 people who have written or liked hate messages have already been identified. The Bohrn Menas are less stressed about the financial side, but rather want to focus on protecting their children and maintaining their integrity. They continue to collect evidence and plan hundreds of injunctions against the relevant FPÖ politicians.

Political responsibility and social relevance

Such incidents raise questions about the responsibility of politicians, especially when they do not moderate the comments section of their posts. In the case of Patrick Haslwanter, a Tyrolean FPÖ politician, numerous hate comments have already had to be deleted. The demand for a responsible approach to freedom of expression on social networks is becoming increasingly urgent, especially since these platforms are often used as “safe spaces” for insults and threats.

In Germany, for example, measures against hate speech and disinformation have become increasingly important in political discourse. The reforms of the coalition agreement in Germany show that dealing with such issues is also on the political agenda there. The protection of freedom of expression is important, but not limitless, as current developments in Austria also make clear. [ZDF].

The situation surrounding Bohrn Mena shows us that the fight against hatred on the internet not only requires legal consequences, but also a rethink in society. The willingness to defend oneself against unworthy statements and hateful comments is crucial in order to create a role model for future generations. Calling for civil courage, both from policymakers and individuals, could represent an important step in this direction.