Germany allows irony on the web

Freedom of speech was at stake, activists said

A German court has cleared a man over the nature of comments about the 11 September attacks he posted on the internet.

Congratulations to the murderers of 11.09.01

Holger Voss

Holger Voss was accused of "glorification of a criminal act" after appearing to praise the hijackers in comments he has insisted were meant sarcastically.

He had written a final sentence at the foot of his remarks - posted last summer on the Telepolis message board - which he said had indicated that the sentiments expressed were not to be taken seriously.

"The trouble was that you would not know he had meant it satirically unless you read to the bottom, so people might think the comment was to be interpreted as approving the act," a court spokesman told BBC News Online.

"But the judge decided that Mr Voss had not intentionally meant to approve the act."

Mr Voss had faced three years in jail if he had been found guilty of the charges.

Critics say the fact that the case was brought before the court in the first place bodes ill for freedom of speech on the web.

Anonymous tip-off

The apparently offending remarks were made in response to a message posted by another internet user - Engine_of_Aggression - who appeared to be pleased about the alleged murders of thousands of Taleban fighters by local militias during the downfall of the Afghan regime in 2001.

"Congratulations to the people, who in this over-critical time, dare to grab evil at its root and eradicate it from the face of the earth!" wrote Engine_of_Aggression.

Mr Voss, who describes himself as an anti-militarist, responded:

"Yes, Congratulations to the murderers of 11.09.01.... Good, that on 11.09 a couple of real men (!) found the courage to show the evil ones, the USA how it really is!"

An anonymous complaint to the police led to the prosecution under a German law which forbids the glorification of a criminal act.

In a statement posted on the anti-censorship site Stop1984, Mr Voss insists he was attempting to display the hypocrisy in valuing American lives over others.

The suit has also sparked controversy as the prosecution forced the owner of the discussion board to hand over details about Mr Voss.