Due to the Corona crisis, German top virologist Christian Drosten has involuntarily become known to a large audience. However, this also had extremely unpleasant consequences for him. Due to an acute threat against his children, he contacted the police for help in 2022. The result, however, is extremely sobering for him.
Insults and nasty threats were almost part of daily life for Drosten in the aftermath of the corona pandemic. He is repeatedly approached, the proven expert on coronaviruses explained during a court case in Germany. Also from people “who apparently took a wrong turn.”
While he initially tried to talk to these people, at one point he simply said: “Please continue,” Die Zeit quoted him as saying.
Desert insults at the campsite
But one incident was particularly drastic. During a camping trip with his family north of Berlin, the scientist walked across the campsite with his four-year-old son to brush his teeth. On the way there, a man described as thin approached them with a beer bottle in his hand. What followed was a screaming tirade: Drosten was the ‘greatest criminal of all time’, a ‘mass murderer’.
“If I had been alone, I would have smiled away,” Drosten continued, but in this case his child was standing next to him. But the argument didn’t end there: the next day, the man’s girlfriend also confronted him. The woman had become increasingly urgent and aggressive; Drosten had ‘the lives of children on his conscience’, she is said to have said. According to the Corona explainer, his son was downright crazy because he thought his father should go to prison.
Corona deniers get away with it without serious consequences
The result: Drosten called the police for help. A mistake, as he now explained, exhausted. The case went to trial and was heard this week. The corona denier couple was also found guilty by the judge there. They publicly insulted Drosten and the man also published photos of Drosten without his permission. However, the tirades against the scientist do not have serious consequences. Both suspects only receive a warning. A fine is only suspended conditionally.
“I will not call the police again, even if my children are threatened. Because I don’t find what results from that acceptable,” Drosten said in any case, disappointed. The “FAZ” quoted him saying that he was not really interested in the outcome of the procedure; his only interest was that the police end the situation.
“Do not hold grudges, but have compassion”
It wasn’t a mistake to call the police, but next time he’ll think twice about it. What irritated him most about the situation were the false reports in various media. It was claimed he cut short his holiday even though the family only wanted to stay one night. That was even more unpleasant than the interrogation in court, he says.
The verdict also caused surprised reactions in politics:
In any case, the process moves on to the next instance. Both the Public Prosecution Service and the lawyer have appealed – Drosten will have to appear in court again as a witness: “I have no grudge against these people, more pity,” Drosten made clear in advance.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
