Extremism - NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution: AfD offspring is a suspected case
The North Rhine-Westphalian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the youth organization of the AfD, Junge Alternative (JA), in NRW as a suspected right-wing extremist organization. "There are strong indications that the Junge Alternative does not play by democratic rules, but prefers its own right-wing extremist set of rules," announced Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) on Tuesday. The NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution is therefore monitoring the Junge Alternative from now on.
Since 2019, the state association of JA NRW has ideologically aligned itself with the political course of the federal association of Junge Alternative, the Minister of the Interior continued. This is characterized by a "national-ethnic understanding of the people and xenophobia". JA NRW also represents positions that violate the guarantee of human dignity. In particular, the aim of excluding and disparaging people with a migration background and Muslims is evident.
In recent years, JA NRW has developed into a component of the right-wing extremist movement of the New Right, according to Reul. The NRW AfD youngsters promote the "Identitarian Movement" and its successor organizations such as "Lukreta", "Revolte Rheinland", "1 Prozent" and the "Institut für Staatspolitik" on social media.
The NRW youth organization of the AfD also provides a forum for protagonists of the New Right. People with right-wing extremist biographies are also active in the JA NRW. Another important indication is the proximity to the formally dissolved so-called wing of the AfD federal party and its ideological leader Björn Höcke.
In a suspected case, there are "sufficiently weighty factual indications" of anti-constitutional aspirations. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution can then evaluate and store personal data and, under strict conditions, use intelligence service means, such as surveillance or recruiting informants.
Decisions by the OVG are still expected
A dispute is currently pending at the Münster Higher Administrative Court between the AfD federal party and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution regarding the classification of the party as a suspected right-wing extremist. The federal association of the AfD is defending itself against a ruling at first instance. In March 2022, the Cologne Administrative Court ruled in favor of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution when it classified the AfD as a suspected case. The Federal Association of the Junge Alternative also no longer wants to be classified as a suspected case.
The decisions of the OVG in Münster in these nationwide cases are expected in the spring. The proceedings are pending in NRW because the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has its headquarters in Cologne.
Interior Minister Reul said that the AfD youth organization must be dealt with politically, regardless of the technical assessment. "To do this, we as political leaders must make good policies for the people in this country and explain them sensibly."
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- The classification of the Junge Alternative (JA) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) as a suspected right-wing extremist organization by the NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution has raised concerns among German political parties, including the CDU.
- Herbert Reul, the Interior Minister of NRW, has accused the AfD youth organization in NRW of promoting extremist views, particularly towards Muslims and immigrants.
- The Secret Services in Düsseldorf have been monitoring the activities of the JA NRW, as they are believed to have close ties with banned right-wing extremist organizations.
- The classification of the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist party by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is currently under review at the Münster Higher Administrative Court.
- The CDU and other German political parties have warned that the rise of extremist groups like the AfD could pose a threat to the country's constitution and democratic values.
- In response to the rise of extremism, some German political parties have called for stricter measures to protect civilians, including increased surveillance of suspected extremist organizations.
- The AfD and its youth organization have rejected the classification as extremist, claiming that they are simply defending German values and culture against immigration and Islamization.
Source: www.stern.de
