Resistance

GERMAR RUDOLF, RESISTANCE IS OBLIGATORYtion and offered their help. Since it is not outlawed in Italy to have adifferent opinion than the government and because one is socially obviouslyconsiderably more tolerant toward dissidents in southern Europe,this association does not have to fear persecutorial measures as a resultof this step.As the next, albeit much less important criterion I have listed statementsof solidarity by strangers, which all occur as listed in my case.You, your honor, are for instance aware that I am receiving a greatnumber of letters from individuals whom I either know only by name –as former clients – or not at all. The prison officials are always amazedto find out that I am being visited here in prison by individuals whom Ihave never before met. I even had to regulate this kind of fan tourism,as my own family couldn’t have visited me anymore due to this highdemand. We even briefly considered taking an entrance fee, but thatwould probably have been too impudent. Add to this the various lettersof protest to German embassies all over the world as well as to leadingGerman politicians, which I cannot endorse in most cases, as they usuallycause only annoyance at the recipient’s end, which can hardly havea positive effect on my situation. Finally there is also the demonstrationfor freedom of speech which several activists wanted to organize a fewweeks ago here in Mannheim but which has been banned. 135This brings me to the next point, namely the attempt of authorities tosuppress such statements of solidarity, especially when they take placepublicly. What is to be thought of a country that prohibits demonstrationsfor freedom of opinion with the reason given that it could serve toexpress prohibited opinions? In what kind of a state do we live wheresuch a thing is possible?Another subtle attempt to suppress statements of solidarity is exertedvia the so-called social workers in prison. When I was called to the socialworker in charge of my case in Stuttgart prison for a hearing aboutan application for an early release, which is possible after half or twothirds of my term, the social worker stated dryly that, due to my voluminouscorrespondence with supporters and fans, I would never get outof prison again, should I continue this way and should I also maintaincontact with these people, which would prove that I would not changemy views. Although I am behaving socially and decently in prison by135 The complaint against this was rejected by the German Constitutional High Court on 6 April2006 (1 BvQ 10/06); cf. also the documentation at www.ab-rhein-neckar.de/meinungsfreiheit.113