The leader of the SPD party, Tomio Okamura, has filed a complaint against the criminal prosecution initiated by the Prague police at the end of February in connection with his controversial election campaign. This information was confirmed by police spokesperson Jan Danek.
In early January, the Prague police approached the Chamber of Deputies, asking for permission to bring Okamura to trial on suspicion of inciting hatred against a group of people or restricting their rights and freedoms. In mid-February, the lower house of parliament passed Okamura’s case for further investigation, and at the end of the month, charges were brought against him. The investigation is being carried out by officers from the extremism and terrorism division.
The criminal prosecution was prompted by posters used in the SPD’s election campaign for regional elections last year. One of the posters, created using artificial intelligence, depicted an African man in a bloodstained shirt holding a knife, labeled “imported doctor.” Another poster showed Roma children smoking cigarettes. These posters were placed in Wenceslas Square in Prague.
If Okamura is found guilty, he faces up to three years in prison. The SPD leader has repeatedly denied allegations of racism or xenophobia, claiming that the campaign was an allegory.
