Chinese tourists arrested for making Hitler salutes in Germany

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Two Chinese tourists have been detained by Berlin police after they made illegal Adolf Hitler salutes outside German parliament on Saturday.

The Chinese men, aged 36 and 49, were seen striking the Nazi-era poses and using their cell phones to photograph each other, according to the Berlin police officers.

“The two face charges for using symbols of illegal organizations,” Reuters cited a police officer in a statement, and they were released after posting bail of 500 euros each (approximately 3,900 yuan).

Germany has strict laws on hate speech and symbols linked to Hitler and the Nazis, who ruled Germany between 1933 and 1945.

Photo from Global Times Weibo

As the report is circulating on Chinese social media, netizens think it is hard to believe that such a behavior is done by anyone from China.

“They deserved it. They have been used to ignoring laws at home. The one who knows nothing and fears nothing, doesn’t mean the one is not guilty,” commented a Chinese user of the Tweet-like platform Weibo with the name of @Xianshitiejinmengxiang.

“They just went to the West to feel the so-called freedom of speech. Surprised? Excited?” another Weibo user @Fanhaohuanyu ironically commented.

“Is it a behavior from adults? Especially these persons are from China, a country ravaged by Nazi," said another Weibo comment.

The Reichstag is a powerful symbol in Germany. It was destroyed by fire in 1933 by an arsonist thought to have been paid by the Nazis, who then blamed the blaze on the Communists and used it as an excuse to severely restrict civil liberties.

(With input from Reuters)