By Gunnar Schupelius
State intervention in civil liberties always requires justification. The mask requirement is ordered without justification. She embodies the government’s lack of respect for individuals, says Gunnar Schupelius.
The Senate has extended “the period of validity of the SARS-CoV-2 Basic Protection Measures Ordinance” until July 27th. This means that the FFP2 mask requirement in local public transport remains in force.
No reason was given for this. That’s amazing, because at 34 degrees in the shade, the mask is no fun and there is a lot of evidence that fibers from the material get into the lungs.
Anyone who wants to protect themselves can do so, but why is everyone being forced to do so? Do we have an acute infection situation? No, we don’t. Is there a dangerous mutant at the door? Are the hospitals overwhelmed? No Neither.
We sent ten questions to the responsible health senator, Ulrike Gote (Greens). She did not answer a single one and instead referred to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) at the Federal Minister of Health.
The Robert Koch Institute “continues to recommend wearing a mouth and nose protector in certain public situations (…)”. However, the RKI does not recommend making a regulation out of this recommendation.
Senator Gote did just that and cannot explain why. We asked if you had any knowledge of the extent to which the FFP2 mask in local public transport helps to contain the spread of infection? No Answer!
We wanted to know how long you can wear an FFP2 mask without a break and what damage to health can occur when wearing it? No Answer!
Aren’t these questions that should be asked of the health authority and isn’t this authority obliged to answer? Yes that is her. Ms. Gote obviously does not consider it necessary to comply with this obligation.
The mask requirement on the BVG and S-Bahn is not only poorly justified, it also lacks any logic, since this requirement no longer applies in public spaces, for example when shopping or at a concert.
The Bundestag decided in March at the urging of the FDP. Since then, the federal states have no longer been allowed to generally order the mask, except in local public transport. This exception is used by the Berlin Senate.
If the state requires people to wear a face mask or an umbrella or a coat, then it is encroaching on personal freedom, which is guaranteed under Article 2 of the Basic Law. There must be a justification for such an intervention.
In large parts of politics, however, there seems to be a loss of awareness of the need for justification. The mask requirement, which is repeatedly extended without justification, embodies the government’s lack of respect for the individual.
Is Gunnar Schupelius right? Call: 030/2591 73153 or email: [email protected]
