Published
The SRF report on a conspiracy theory about ritual satanic abuse makes waves. Now protagonists, but also the Fairmedia association, are criticizing the journalists’ approach.
In the video you can see the most important statements from the report.
20min / SRF
After the publication of a report on a conspiracy theory on satanic ritual abuse, the SRF has come under fire.
The media workers behaved in a non-transparent, condescending and unfair manner, says the Fairmedia association.
SRF journalist Ilona Stämpfli counters: “We have always announced transparently that we are interested in ritual violence.”
Human sacrifice, the drinking of blood and even cannibalism: Experts from psychiatry, victim support or the police believe in a conspiracy story about satanic ritual violence, as a report by SRF shows. The contribution caused heated discussions, for some protagonists their statements already had consequences (see box).
But now there is increasing criticism of the actions of the two SRF journalists. For example, the Bernese EDU politician Samuel Kullmann, who also appears in the doc, says: “I have the impression that the video is used for targeted defamation.” He was not in the picture that the focus would be on satanic ritual violence: “All of my statements in the interview refer to ritual violence in general, not specifically to satanic abuse.”
Intransparent and condescending?
It is clear to him that there are organized criminal structures and ritual sexual violence against children: “This can be ideologically embedded in different ways.” He also expressly distanced himself from extremist groups such as QAnon in the interview.
The Fairmedia association also chose clear words, which in turn spoke to several protagonists of the contribution. He writes of opaque, condescending and unfair behavior on the part of the SRF reporter.
Criticism of a lack of objectivity
“Regardless of how absurd the descriptions of the interviewees seem, these people should not be presented either,” says Managing Director Jeremias Schulthess. Guidelines on journalistic transparency have apparently not been complied with, Schulthess continued.
Fairmedia criticizes the lack of objectivity of SRF journalist Robin Rehmann. In a livestream, he said of his approach that he had benefited from the fact that he looked “like a yogi”: “They think, now I’ll tell my stories and then it will work out well. Then I widen my eyes and listen to the stories. And they think: ‘Ho, ho, ho!’ – but in the end I do ‘ho, ho, ho!’ “
Film team defends itself
When asked by 20 Minuten, journalist Ilona Stämpfli said that they had always transparently announced that they were interested in ritual violence as a SRF media representative: “In all interviews we also repeatedly differentiated that our interest is specifically aimed at satanic ritual abuse.”
One does not want to defame anyone, but rather draw attention to the problem of the conspiracy narrative: “This is believed by people who work with victims of abuse,” Stämpfli continued. Kullmann has already expressed himself in public with this narrative several times.
Because of their statements in the report, two people have to face the consequences:
Trauma therapist Regula Schwager is co-director of the Castagna victim support center. This is supported by the Canton of Zurich with over half a million francs every year. There they now want to have Castagna’s work examined externally, as confirmed by the cantonal victim support center at the request of 20 Minuten. Offers are currently being obtained for this.
Matthias Kollmann is senior physician at the Clienia Littenheid in Thurgau and heads the trauma ward there. The clinic had distanced itself from Kollmann’s statements last week. He was released immediately and internal investigations initiated. These are still ongoing, as it is said on request.
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