Beleidigung

Beleidigung is a term used in German-speaking legal contexts to describe the act of insulting or demeaning the honor or dignity of another person. It encompasses spoken, written, or gestural expressions, and can occur in private conversations, public settings, media, or online.

Elements of the offense typically include that the statement or act is directed at another person and that it degrades that person’s honor in a way that a reasonable person would recognize as an affront. The act can be committed through words, gestures, or other forms of public communication. Beleidigung is distinct from related offenses such as Üble Nachrede (defamation by making false statements) and Verleumdung (claiming false facts about someone with knowledge of their falsity).

In many jurisdictions, Beleidigung is a criminal offense with penalties that vary by country. In Germany, the offense is codified in § 185 StGB and is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine. In Austria and Switzerland, similar offenses exist, with penalties defined by their respective criminal codes. Beleidigung can also give rise to civil claims, such as damages for violation of personality rights, separate from criminal penalties.

Defenses and limits: freedom of expression provides protection for many forms of speech, but Beleidigung rests on the protection of personal honor, so not all insults are unlawful; context, intent, and the presence of demeaning content toward a specific individual are considered. In journalism, art, and science, there are distinctions, but gratuitous or targeted insults can still be prosecutable.

See also: Üble Nachrede, Verleumdung, Meinungsfreiheit, Civil claims for injury to honor.