Florian Schröder (53) from Pinneberg near Hamburg only wanted to do something good last year: to put daycare centre children in a festive mood with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree during the Advent season. But the management of the ‘Mobi’ daycare centre in Hamburg’s Lokstedt district reported the founder of a tree shop to the police.
Because Schröder had put up the tree and presents in a cloak-and-dagger operation without having agreed it with the daycare centre, the latter promptly called the police: trespassing! This was also the opinion of the Hamburg district court, which sentenced Schröder to a fine of 3,000 euros.
He had ‘trespassed on someone else’s property (…) to put up a Christmas tree there in the knowledge that the daycare centre management had deliberately not put one up and would not approve of it being entered or put up’, according to the reasons for the judgement, which the newspaper BILD has in its possession.
And indeed: the daycare centre, which belongs to the ‘Stiftung Kindergärten Finkenau’, had previously decided against a tree. The reason given in an email to the parents at the time: ‘We decided against it as a team because we don’t want to exclude any child and their faith – in the spirit of religious freedom.’
Unthinkable for Schröder, who is a supporter of Christmas trees. The managing director of the online shop pflanzmich.de refers to statements made by the daycare centre manager, who is said to have said that she had nothing against Christmas trees, but that not all traditions could be implemented.
Schröder does not want to accept the penalty order and has lodged an appeal. That is why the regional court in the Hanseatic city is now dealing with the case on Tuesday.
Schröder told BILD: ‘We wanted to make children happy at Christmas time – and that’s why we’re now back in court. For us, a Christmas tree and shining children’s eyes are not a criminal offence, but a sign of hope.’ No daycare centre in the world could have anything against Christmas trees: ‘Why would they?’
The daycare centre has not yet responded to a BILD enquiry.
The daycare center could have at least been honest about why they didn’t allow a tree. They were too afraid of “offending Muslims” who don’t celebrate Christmas anyway. Germany has become a joke.
Our country OUR culture!
Islamic countries worldwide torture murder and persecute minorities! Now they was US to be tolerant of their intolerant behaviour? Tell them when they build Christian churches in Riyadh Mecca and Constantinople we will listen!