Ministry violated party’s rights by labeling it extremist, court rules

The Czech Interior Ministry violated the rights of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party by including it in its 2022 extremism report, a Prague 7 district court ruled on Tuesday. The verdict is not binding and the ministry has said it will appeal.

The court stopped short of ordering an apology, saying the infringement was not serious enough to merit one.

The opposition party objected to being labeled “a xenophobic populist group” playing a “dominant role in expressing prejudiced hatred.” The judge concluded that the ministry had not proved such expressions were a central feature of the party’s activity during the period in question.