Germany’s Grundgesetz (Basic Law) guarantees fundamental human rights, especially in the first 19 articles. If you want to naturalize as a German (Einbürgerung), you are expected to know German Basic Law also known as Grundgesetz. Here are the five most important human rights with their German versions:
1. Human Dignity (Menschenwürde) – Article 1
German:
“Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar. Sie zu achten und zu schützen ist Verpflichtung aller staatlichen Gewalt.”
English:
“Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.”
✅ This is the foundation of all other rights.
2. Equality Before the Law (Gleichheit vor dem Gesetz) – Article 3
German:
“Alle Menschen sind vor dem Gesetz gleich.”
English:
“All people are equal before the law.”
✅ No discrimination based on sex, race, language, origin, or religion.
3. Freedom of Expression (Meinungsfreiheit) – Article 5
German:
“Jeder hat das Recht, seine Meinung in Wort, Schrift und Bild frei zu äußern und zu verbreiten.”
English:
“Everyone shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinion in speech, writing, and pictures.”
✅ Also includes freedom of the press, but hate speech and Nazi propaganda are illegal.
4. Freedom of Religion (Religionsfreiheit) – Article 4
German:
“Die Freiheit des Glaubens, des Gewissens und die Freiheit des religiösen und weltanschaulichen Bekenntnisses sind unverletzlich.”
English:
“Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom of creed, religious or ideological, shall be inviolable.”
✅ The state must remain neutral in religious matters.
5. Right to Life and Physical Integrity (Recht auf Leben und körperliche Unversehrtheit) – Article 2(2)
German:
“Jeder hat das Recht auf Leben und körperliche Unversehrtheit. Die Freiheit der Person ist unverletzlich.”
English:
“Every person shall have the right to life and physical integrity. The freedom of the person shall be inviolable.”
✅ This guarantees personal safety and prohibits torture or the death penalty in Germany.