Udo Ulfkotte

Udo Ulfkotte

Ulfkotte at a Pegida demonstration, 2015
Born (1960-01-20)20 January 1960
Lippstadt, West Germany
Died 13 January 2017(2017-01-13) (aged 56)
Nationality German
Occupation Journalist

Udo Ulfkotte (20 January 1960 – 13 January 2017) was a German journalist and political scientist. He was an assistant editor for a German main daily newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) for several years until 2003.[1] Between 1997 and his death he published a dozen books, including a number with right-wing populist, anti-muslim, and so-called conspiracy theory themes. In articles and books (including his latest book, Gekaufte Journalisten (German Bought Journalists, the English translation of which appears to be being suppressed), he maintained that journalists (including himself) and leading newspapers published material that had been fed to them, or bought, by the CIA and other Western intelligence and propaganda agencies.[2][3][4][5]

Career

Ulfkotte studied jurisprudence and politics in Freiburg and London. Between 1986 and 1998 Ulfkotte lived predominantly in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan.[6][7]

Ulfkotte was on the staff of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation from 1999 to 2003.[8] He won the civic prize of the Annette Barthelt Foundation in 2003.[9]

Ulfkotte published a magazine called Whistleblower, reporting on topics not covered by the German media.

Ulfkotte had planned to run for the Hamburg local elections in 2008, as number two on the Centre Party's list,[10] but later withdrew in June/July 2007. In July 2007, Ulfkotte announced he would found a new national party.[8]

Ulfkotte was born into a Christian family, but by the age of 21, he abandoned Christianity and became an atheist. While living in Herat, Afghanistan, he converted to Islam. He later returned to Christianity.[11][12] He reverted to conservative and nationalist views, occasionally expressing strong anti-immigrant or anti-Muslim opinions.[11][12]

Journalists for Hire

Ulfkotte became a vocal critic of Western policy. In 2014, Ulfkotte published the book Gekaufte Journalisten (German Bought Journalists), in which he stated that the CIA and other secret services pay money to journalists to report stories in a certain light.[13][14] According to Ulfkotte, the CIA and German intelligence (BND) bribe journalists in Germany to write pro-NATO propaganda articles, and it is well understood that one may lose their media job if they fail to comply with the pro-Western agenda.[15][16][3] On May 15, 2017 Next Revelation Press, an imprint of US-Canadian-based publisher Tayen Lane, released the English version of Bought Journalists, under the title, Journalists for Hire: How the CIA Buys the News. James F. Tracy reports that this English translation appears to have been suppressed throughout North America and Europe, that Tayen Lane has since removed any reference to the title from its website, and that, correspondingly, Amazon.com (per 31 July 2017) indicates the title is “currently unavailable,” with opportunities to purchase from independent sellers offering used copies for no less than $1309.09. The book’s subject matter and unexplained disappearance from the marketplace suggest that powerful entities are seeking to prevent its circulation, according to Tracy.[17]

Death

Ulfkotte died from a heart attack on 13 January 2017 at the age of 56.[18]

Works

These works are all written in German. English translations of the titles are included here.

References

  1. ↑ "Controversial author and former "FAZ" journalist Udo Ulfkotte is dead".
  2. ↑ Rechtspopulismus: Umstrittener Publizist Udo Ulfkotte ist tot in: Spiegel Online from January, the 14th of 2017
  3. 1 2 Editor of major newspaper says he planted stories for CIA (26 January 2015), Digital Journal
  4. ↑ Admits Most Media Work for CIA, MI6, Mossad (26 October 2014), American Free Press
  5. ↑ “Non-Official Cover” – Respected German Journalist Blows Whistle on How the CIA Controls the Media (8 October 2014)
  6. ↑ "'German Wilders' attacks Islam"
  7. ↑ Ulfkotte, Dr. Udo. "Download - Homepage Dr. Udo Ulfkotte".
  8. 1 2 "Neoconservative project author Ulfkotte plans anti-Islamic party".
  9. ↑ "Staatspreis".
  10. ↑ (in German) hamburg kompakt
  11. 1 2 Ferreri, Enza (6 April 2013). "Journalist Dr Udo Ulfkotte: Expelling Muslims Will Help Europe Fight its Financial Crisis". enzaferreri.blogspot.ca. Enza Ferreri. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  12. 1 2 Igor Ogorodnev. "Russia Today: Go back to where you are happy – Udo Ulfkotte on immigration issue". Russia Today. 7:20 minutes in. Archived from the original on 24 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "Our Exclusive Interview with German Editor Turned CIA Whistleblower".
  14. ↑ "Periodistas alemanes comprados".
  15. ↑ German Journalist Blows Whistle On How The CIA Controls The Media October 2014
  16. ↑ German journo: European media writing pro-US stories under CIA pressure, RT (TV network)
  17. ↑ English Translation of Udo Ulfkotte’s “Bought Journalists” Suppressed? (31 July 2017),Global Research
  18. ↑ "Udo Ulfkotte: Umstrittener Publizist und ehemaliger FAZ-Journalist ist tot". Spiegel Online (in German). 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
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