AfD challenges spy agency's extremist label in Cologne court
Alternative for Germany (AfD) has filed a lawsuit against counterintelligence services that have labelled it as an extremist organisation. The case has been brought before the court in Cologne.
What do you need to know?
- AfD lawsuit: Alternative for Germany (AfD) has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) in the administrative court in Cologne.
- BfV classification: The BfV has classified AfD as an extremist organisation, allowing the use of clandestine methods to monitor its activities.
- This decision allows for clandestine monitoring, which may influence the AfD's future actions and political strategy.
Why did AfD file a lawsuit?
Alternative for Germany (AfD) decided to take legal action against the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) after it classified the party as an extremist organisation. The lawsuit was filed in the administrative court in Cologne, where the BfV is headquartered.
"Through the lawsuit, the party is trying legally to prohibit the authorities from classifying, monitoring, and investigating AfD as a right-wing extremist organisation," noted the dpa agency.
What are the allegations against AfD?
The BfV justified its decision with an internal report of approximately 1,100 pages. The document emphasised that AfD bases its understanding of the nation on descent, not citizenship. "This conception prevailing in the party, based on ethnic categories, aims to exclude certain groups from equal participation in society," stated BfV deputy chiefs Sinan Selen and Silke Willems.
What does the BfV decision mean for AfD?
The classification of AfD as an extremist organisation does not mean its prohibition, but it does allow the authorities to use clandestine methods to monitor the party's activities. A decision on a possible prohibition could only be made at the request of the Constitutional Court, one of the parliamentary chambers, or the government.
