Hüseyin Dogru: Facing Prison for Criticizing an Israeli Journalist

April 18, 2025 – Germany – 

Hüseyin Dogru, founder of the independent media outlet red. media, is facing up to three years in prison in Germany on defamation charges stemming from a dispute with Nicholas Potter, a German journalist affiliated with The Jerusalem Post. The conflict began after Potter published an exposé alleging that red. media, along with other outlets like MintPress News and The Grayzone, were part of a network promoting extremism and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, purportedly funded by Russia, Syria, and Iran.

In response, red. The media criticized Potter’s affiliations, highlighting his funding from the German Foreign Office and his move to Israel to work for an outlet led by a former Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson. The situation escalated when a sticker, derived from a red one. media graphic and bearing the phrase “The German Hurensohn” (“The German Son of a Bitch”), appeared in Berlin. This sticker became central to the prosecution’s claim of a coordinated “hate campaign” against Potter.

Dogru denies any involvement with the sticker and refutes the defamation charges. He emphasizes that red. Media operates independently, without ties to any foreign governments, and is committed to producing revolutionary and educational content. Previously associated with Red Fish, a platform funded by the Russian state-controlled network RT, Dogru severed those ties in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This case unfolds amid a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices in Germany. The German government has banned certain pro-Palestinian demonstrations and slogans, such as “From the River to the Sea,” and has taken measures like denying citizenship to individuals using such phrases. Dogru views his prosecution as indicative of a wider suppression of dissent, stating, “Since October 7, we see that the German government is violently repressing activists to make sure there are no voices in Germany critical of Israel.”

The outcome of Dogru’s case may set a precedent for press freedom and the right to political expression in Germany, particularly concerning criticism of foreign governments.

Reference –

Facing prison time in Germany for criticizing an Israeli journalist: The case of Hüseyin Dogru

Facing Prison Time in Germany for Criticizing an Israeli Journalist: The Case of Hüseyin Dogru