Swiss Man Jailed for Stating Biological Fact: "Only Two Genders"

Michael Ringer

24 Oct 2025 — 4 min read

Burgdorf, Switzerland — Emanuel Brünisholz, a 57-year-old wind instrument repairman from Burgdorf in the canton of Bern, will serve 10 days in prison starting December 2, 2025, after refusing to pay a fine for a Facebook comment stating there are only two biological sexes.

Brünisholz's ordeal began in December 2022 when he responded to a Facebook post by Swiss National Council member Andreas Glarner, a parliamentarian for the right-leaning Swiss People's Party. In his comment, Brünisholz wrote:

"If you dig up LGBTQI people after 200 years, you'll only find men and women based on their skeletons. Everything else is a mental illness promoted through the curriculum."

The remark was quickly reported to authorities by activists who alleged it constituted public incitement to hatred under Article 261bis of the Swiss Criminal Code, a provision originally introduced in 1995 to outlaw racist incitement and broadened in 2020 to include sexual orientation and sexual identity.

Local police launched an investigation and interrogated Brünisholz in August 2023. When asked what he meant by his comment, he replied: "Well, that those who think there's not just man and woman, I want to tell them that there's only man and woman." When questioned about his views on the LGBTQI community, he responded: "Nothing, absolutely nothing. It's an extremist bunch. They want to silence me."

The Bernese judiciary determined that "through his comment published on Facebook, [Brünisholz] has publicly belittled the group of LGBT(Q)I people based on their sexual orientation and in a way that violates human dignity." He was fined 500 Swiss francs (approximately $580 USD), convertible to 10 days of imprisonment if unpaid.

Brünisholz appealed the decision to the Regional Court of Emmental-Oberaargau but lost his case, accumulating an additional 600 Swiss francs in court fees. Refusing to pay the fine on principle, he accepted the substitute custodial sentence instead.

"I stand by what I wrote," Brünisholz told police during his interrogation, insisting he was merely stating a biological fact, not inciting hatred.

Legal scholar Jonathan Turley commented on the case, stating: "He is now going to jail for simply expressing his view, a view supported by many scientists and citizens." Turley noted that "a court actually convicted him and then another court upheld the conviction," calling it an example of how "free speech is in a free fall in Europe."

The case has sparked controversy, with critics calling it "woke authoritarianism" infiltrating Swiss jurisprudence. Commentator Daniel Stricker noted the irony: "And the Swiss mainstream media whines about free speech restrictions in far-off America… Total silence on this case."

Switzerland is currently debating expanding "gender identity" protections, with the Transgender Network Switzerland pushing for explicit gender identity inclusion under Article 261bis, while critics warn of overreach.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

A man goes to prison for stating forensic anthropology. Switzerland, once famous for neutrality, now criminalizes biology. Brünisholz's comment wasn't hateful—it was factual. Male and female skeletons differ. This isn't bigotry. It's science taught in every medical school.

But truth is now "hate speech" when it contradicts gender ideology. Activists filed complaints. Police investigated a Facebook comment. Two courts upheld the conviction. A 57-year-old repairman chose jail over paying a fine for stating reality. This is Europe's "new world order"—where biological facts become thought crimes and citizens face prison for refusing ideological conformity.

Switzerland stayed neutral when Nazis marched across Europe. Now it prosecutes citizens for Facebook posts. The message is clear: deny science, or face state punishment. Brünisholz refused to bend. "I stand by what I wrote," he told interrogators. That courage will cost him 10 days behind bars.

This is how tyranny begins—not with jackboots, but with expanded "anti-discrimination" laws weaponized against dissent. Today it's skeletons and biology. Tomorrow it's any truth the regime finds inconvenient. Western nations are criminalizing reality itself while calling it "human dignity." Brünisholz's imprisonment should terrify every Christian who believes God created male and female. Because that biblical truth is now prosecutable hate speech in the heart of Europe.

TAKE ACTION

Support Emanuel Brünisholz:

Follow his updates on X (Twitter): @EmanuelBrn22173
Share his story to raise international awareness of this injustice

Defend Free Speech:

Contact Swiss authorities and demand the release of Emanuel Brünisholz
Swiss Embassy contacts available at: Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Sign petitions opposing criminalization of biological statements

Support Organizations Fighting for Free Speech:

Alliance Defending Freedom International - Legal defense for religious freedom and free speech
Christian Legal Centre - Defending Christians facing prosecution for their beliefs
ADF International - Fighting censorship in Europe

Speak Up:

Write to your elected representatives about the dangerous precedent of criminalizing biological truth
Support legislation protecting free speech and religious expression
Warn your church and community about the spread of "hate speech" laws that criminalize Christian doctrine

Pray: