Hitler salute in the Bundestag? AfD member of parliament must go to court

He is alleged to have shown the Hitler salute in the Bundestag and clicked his heels together - now the Saxon AfD member of parliament Matthias Moosdorf has to stand trial. A spokesperson for the Berlin criminal courts announced in response to an inquiry that the charges had been admitted for trial in a decision made on March 17. The trial will therefore take place before the State Protection Chamber of the Berlin Regional Court. The trial dates are still being coordinated.

The public prosecutor's office is accusing Moosdorf of using unconstitutional symbols. Specifically, he is alleged to have greeted a party colleague in the checkroom area at the east entrance to the Reichstag building with the prohibited gesture on 22 June 2023 during an ongoing Bundestag session.

Politician rejects accusation

In the "Politico" podcast "Inside AfD", which was the first to report on the admission of the charges, Moosdorf spoke of a "political character assassination attempt". His immunity was lifted by the Bundestag in October 2025. He had already rejected the accusations as "absurd" when the charges were brought in December. The 200-page file was based solely on the statements of a former SPD MP, he told the German Press Agency at the time, and all direct witnesses denied the account of the complaint.

Originally, the Berlin public prosecutor's office had brought charges before the Tiergarten district court. However, as the case is of particular importance due to the alleged location of the Bundestag and the prominent position of the accused, it will be heard by the regional court, according to the spokesperson.

In the Bundestag since 2021

Former musician and university lecturer Moosdorf has been a member of the Bundestag since 2021. He won the direct mandate in the Zwickau constituency in 2021 and 2025. Last year, he also caused trouble within the AfD parliamentary group. In mid-September 2025, the former foreign policy spokesperson for the parliamentary group was ordered to pay an internal fine of 2,000 euros following an unauthorized trip to Russia.