T-shirt “Kommarid ahju!” (Estonian for “Communists to the Ovens!”)

The aim of the expertise commissioned by the Estonian Police was to clarify whether the message on the T-shirt may be considered hateful. 

2006
Expertise
Commissioned by the Estonian Police (Tallinn City Centre Police Station)

Background

In 2005, the creators of the newspaper KesKus also created a red T-shirt which formed the basis of the so-called T-shirt scandal. On the front of the shirt was a question mark and the question "How much longer?" On the back of the shirt was the slogan "Kommarid ahju!" (Estonian for “Communists to the Ovens!”) and a list of Estonian politicians who belonged to the Communist Party. The shirts were worn on September 23rd, 2005, at the football match of the Estonian National Broadcast and Estonian Radio at Kadrioru Stadium in Tallinn. This caused a scandal in local media which resulted in a lawsuit and the resignation of then-Minister-of-Defense Jaak Jõerüüt.

Semiotic Expertise

The aim of the commissioned expertise was to find out whether or the message of the T-shirt was hatred-inciting. Semiotic expertise enabled the analysis of the slogan based on how it was used within the specific cultural context.

Media

SEMIOOTIKUD skandaalsest T-särgist “Kommarid ahju!”, Eesti Päevaleht, 28.09.2005
Punasärgiskandaal, Õhtuleht, 27.09.2005
ANTI RANDVIIR: Semiootilisest ekspertiisist. Eesti Päevaleht , 16.08.2006
Kaua võib? Kommarid ahju! Areen avalikustab kõmulise särgi “KOMMARID AHJU!” ekspertiisi, mida politsei püüdis varjata. Refereerisid Harry Liivrand ja Karin Paulus. Eesti Ekspress 26.10.2006