The Viennese lawyer Astrid Wagner is very familiar with criminal law. Until recently, she had never been on the other side: after a demonstration in the city center, the police stopped her and threatened her with a charge of incitement to hatred – now the lawyer announces legal action.
“They came after me – heavily armed, like a terrorist unit. “It was an absolutely threatening situation,” lawyer Astrid Wagner told the “Krone”. On Thursday, the renowned criminal lawyer took part in a pro-Palestine event to reveal her legal expertise in the areas of freedom of expression, democracy and the functioning rule of law. “I was there as a lawyer,” Wagner says.
There was no reason to determine identity
After the police broke up the meeting, an argument broke out between the lawyer and officers: “I left the place as normal. They followed me and asked me to verify my identity” – they answered the question about the reason as follows: Off. Point.
It turned out that the police initially suspected the lawyer of incitement to hatred. “I only quoted from judgments,” says Astrid Wagner indignantly, as she reports that the officials have threatened her with a complaint. “For me this is a clear abuse of office,” she said indignantly to the “Krone”.
Wagner wants to sue officials personally
That is why she is already working on a criminal complaint against the police officers, a complaint about the measures taken and a complaint against the supervisor. It also reserves the right to file a civil claim. “It was a very stressful situation. I will probably sue the officials personally. They lined up in front of me like they were arresting a murderer.”
What worries the top lawyer: “I am very concerned about this rule of law because of this arbitrary action.” For Wagner, reports and complaints are not enough: “I expect an apology from the Minister of the Interior.”
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.
