Volkswacht Bodensee - Swiss far-right extremists go on trial amid protests

The trial centres on actions taken by the organisation -- which is considered one of the most active far-right groups in Switzerland -- including at a church service during the 2022 Zurich Pride Festival, as well as at a children's reading session by drag queens.

The main focus is on the group's leaders, Tobias Lingg and Manuel Corchia, who could face prison sentences of up to 15 months if convicted.

When the two men arrived at the courthouse on Friday, they were met by boos and chants from around 150 demonstrators waving banners asserting that "No Nazis are innocent" and demanding to "Keep Zurich Nazi-free".

The two appeared to revel in the attention, signalling to the crowd to shout louder, before unfurling a banner in German bearing the slogan: "Family rather than gender ideology".

Prior to the trial, Junge Tat, meaning Young Action, launched a social media petition slamming the "politically motivated" charges brought by the public prosecutor against six of its members, and demanding the protection of "freedom of opinion".

"We'll see today to what extent freedom of expression is truly preserved in Switzerland," Corchia told reporters before entering the courthouse.

Inside, the six members -- five men and one woman -- refused to answer the judge's questions during the morning session.

When the judge asked even "basic questions, like where they grew up or what their monthly income is... they refused to answer", singer and LGBTQ activist Brandy Butler, who figures among the plaintiffs in the case, told AFP.

"It's disappointing to see that members of Junge Tat are not taking the court seriously."

Butler was an organiser of a 2022 Drag Story Time event, which was was suddenly disrupted by Junge Tat activists armed with flaming torches and shouting anti-LGBTQ slogans and threatening organisers.

Following the incident, the readings had to be cancelled for safety reasons.

M.Schneider--VB