Zweibrucken: A German court ruled that comparing Israel to the Nazi regime is not a criminal offense, the legal website beck online reported. In the case, several Instagram posts by a user compared the actions of the state of Israel to the methods of the Nazi regime, using symbols such as the Nazi swastika and the Nazi party flag.

According to Anadolu Agency, citing her right to freedom of speech, a higher regional court in the southwestern city of Zweibrucken has acquitted her of any wrongdoing, as reported earlier this week. The court determined that the criminal offense of using symbols of unconstitutional organizations is not applicable if the symbols are used to sharply criticize the state of Israel's methods while clearly distancing oneself from or condemning Nazi-era injustices.

The user had posted a table in her story comparing the actions of the Nazis with Israel's actions in the Middle East conflict, accompanied by a split image showing the flag of Israel on one side and the flag of the Nazi party, with a partially visible swastika, on the other. Initially, a lower court in the city of Ludwigshafen had sentenced the woman to a fine of £2,400 ($2,768) for using symbols of unconstitutional organizations. However, on appeal, the Zweibrucken court overturned the decision, cautioning against interpreting the criminal offense too broadly in light of freedom of expression.