German politician fined over migrant remarks

By Cuneyt Karadag

BERLIN

A German far-right politician was fined €2,250 ($2,665) on Wednesday over a Facebook post calling for violence against migrants.

Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Jeanette Ihme, a member of the national board of the party, posted a Facebook message in August that migrant boats in the Mediterranean Sea should be sunk before reaching Europe.

Ihme also wrote that they were "criminal traffickers" bringing "clientele" into the country and behaving like "primates".

Although she deleted the post after public criticism, a court in Ottweiler ruled that a crime had been committed.

The court also said the politician acted against human dignity. Ihme apologized.

The defender announced that he wanted to appeal the verdict.

*Ilker Girit contributed to this story from Istanbul.