The dispute centers on a May 2026 report that amplified allegations against the FIE’s leadership by citing a massive, unchecked signatory list. While the Hamburg Regional Court initially declined to intervene, the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court overturned that decision on July 23, 2026. The court found that the open letter’s online form allowed anonymous and unverified entries, meaning the claim of professional athlete support was fundamentally misleading.
German Court Blocks Reuters from Repeating Fencing Federation Claims
A Hamburg appellate court has issued a preliminary injunction against Reuters, barring the news agency from claiming that an open letter to the International Fencing Federation was backed by 3,000 athletes and coaches. The ruling labels the figure an untrue statement of fact, citing a lack of verification.
Under the court order, each violation of the injunction carries a potential fine of up to 250,000 euros or coercive detention. Justice officials emphasized that the media outlet’s presentation of the signatories as a specific, professional cohort granted the letter an unearned weight that violated the federation’s rights. FIE Interim President Abdelmoneim El Husseiny noted that the now-discredited figure served as the primary catalyst for global media attention. Reuters has since updated its original article, removing the 3,000-signature claim and acknowledging that it did not independently verify the identities of those who signed the document.
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