- Legal Basis
- § 185 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of up to one year or a fine; up to two years if committed publicly or by assault
- Summary
- Insulting another person through a statement of contempt or disrespect
Insult (Section 185 German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against Insult Charges
Insult is the most frequently prosecuted offence against personal honour in Germany. It protects the individual’s personal claim to respect and is reported across a wide range of life situations – from road traffic altercations and social media conflicts to neighbourhood and workplace disputes. For expats in Germany, it is important to understand that insults are treated as criminal offences, not merely civil matters as in many other legal systems.
Statutory Text – Section 185 StGB
Insult shall be punished with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine, and if the insult is committed publicly, at a gathering, by disseminating content, or by means of an assault, with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Dishonourable statement: An insult is the expression of contempt or disrespect towards another person. It can be committed through words, gestures, images, actions, or other forms of expression. The decisive factor is whether the statement, based on its objective meaning and the surrounding circumstances, is to be regarded as an expression of disdain.
Distinction from freedom of expression: The boundary between criminal insult and constitutionally protected expression of opinion is a central problem in insult law. Value judgments may be covered by freedom of expression (Art. 5 Basic Law) unless they qualify as pure abusive criticism – disparagement without any factual reference.
Factual assertions: Untrue dishonourable factual assertions made to the affected person can be punishable as insult. If made to third parties, defamation (Section 186 StGB) or slander (Section 187 StGB) may be applicable.
Insult by assault: Physical acts – such as spitting, a slap as an expression of contempt, or showing the middle finger – can also constitute insult.
Typical Methods of Commission
Insults are committed verbally in direct conversation, in writing by letter, email, or messenger, on social media and online forums, through gestures in traffic (middle finger, tapping the forehead), through physical acts such as spitting, and in the form of defamatory writings or images. With the increasing shift of communication to the internet, insult in the digital sphere has gained significantly in importance.
Sentencing Range
Simple insult is punished with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine. For public commission, at a gathering, through dissemination of content, or by means of assault, the range increases to up to two years of imprisonment or a fine. Insult is generally an offence prosecuted only on complaint (Section 194 StGB) – prosecution requires a criminal complaint by the injured party. The complaint must be filed within three months of learning of the offence and the offender.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against insult charges frequently focuses on the distinction from freedom of expression: is the statement a permissible – if sharp – expression of opinion, or a criminal disparagement? The case law of the Federal Constitutional Court grants freedom of expression a broad scope of protection. It is further examined whether the criminal complaint was filed in time and whether there was a counter-provocation that may reduce or eliminate the accused’s culpability. The right of safeguarding legitimate interests (Section 193 StGB) can operate as a justification ground. Rechtsanwalt Bafteh develops an individual defence strategy for each case that exhausts all legal possibilities.
Typical case groups in insult (§ 185 StGB)
Insult proceedings today often arise on social networks, via messenger or in road traffic. The line between a punishable affront to honour and a permissible expression of opinion is fluid.
Insult on the internet and social media
Statements on Facebook, Instagram or in chat groups can be punishable. The context must always be examined and whether the statement is covered by freedom of expression (Art. 5 of the Basic Law).
Defamation and malicious gossip
Where dishonouring facts are asserted, malicious gossip (§ 186 StGB) or defamation (§ 187 StGB) come into consideration. Here the question of truth and provability is decisive.
Application and private prosecution
Insult offences are prosecuted only on application (§ 194 StGB); often parties are referred to private prosecution. A discontinuation against a condition is frequently possible, especially for first offenders.
Note: This information is general and does not replace advice in an individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wird Insult nur auf Strafantrag verfolgt?
Ja, die Insult ist grundsätzlich ein Antragsdelikt (§ 194 StGB); der Strafantrag muss binnen drei Monaten gestellt werden. Fehlt er, kommt eine Einstellung in Betracht.
Wo verläuft die Grenze zur Meinungsfreiheit?
Werturteile sind durch Art. 5 GG geschützt. Strafbar wird eine Äußerung erst, wenn sie als Schmähkritik oder Formalbeleidigung die Grenze überschreitet. Die Abwägung ist stark einzelfallabhängig und bietet Verteidigungsansätze.
Ist eine Einstellung möglich?
Bei Insultsvorwürfen ist eine Einstellung nach §§ 153, 153a StPO, häufig gegen eine Auflage, gut erreichbar.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Insult? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Insult requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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