Administrative Court Dresden - Securely right-wing - Emergency motion of AfD Saxony rejected
The Administrative Court of Dresden has rejected the urgent application of the AfD in Saxony against the classification as a securely right-wing extremist endeavor. The court stated that there are sufficient factual indications that the applicant pursues intentions that are directed against the dignity of certain person groups and the democratic principle.
Court sees unconstitutional endeavors
The court suspects, among other things, that the party wants to assign a legally devalued status to German citizens with a migration background. "This constitutes an unconstitutional discrimination based on descent, which is not compatible with the human dignity guarantee," the statement reads.
The attitudes of the Saxon AfD towards foreigners, especially asylum seekers, who aimed to exclude, disparage, and render largely powerless these persons, are also unconstitutional. With the emphasis on an "ethnic-cultural concept of the people," the legal equality of all citizens and the guarantee of human dignity for all people is put in question.
The court also mentions the cooperation with right-wing extremists and with organizations and endeavors classified as constitutionally hostile as grounds. Antisemitic statements, the denigration of the liberal democratic basic order, and the questioning of the democratic principle were also cited.
Verfassungsschutz President satisfied
The Saxon Verfassungsschutz President Dirk-Martin Christian is pleased with the decision: "The Administrative Court of Dresden has followed the legal argumentation of the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution in its entirety and has thus confirmed the workings of the Office," the statement reads.
The Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution had classified the Saxon state branch of the AfD as a "secured right-wing extremist endeavor" in December 2023. With their urgent application, the AfD aimed to prevent the Office from classifying, observing, handling, examining, and/or leading them accordingly. The public disclosure of the classification was also opposed. All three points were rejected by the court.
The parties involved can file an appeal against the decision at the Higher Administrative Court in Bautzen.
The decision by the Administrative Court of Dresden aligns with the Constitutional Protection Agency's classification of the AfD in Saxony as a 'secured right-wing extremist endeavor'. The court's ruling suggests that the party's actions and rhetoric strive to debase the dignity of certain population groups and challenge democratic principles.
The court's judgement highlights the AfD's intentions to assign a lesser legal status to citizens with a migration background, which the court deems unconstitutional, infringing on the human dignity guarantee.
Their attitudes towards foreigners, particularly asylum seekers, also came under scrutiny. The court's statement indicated that these attitudes, including the aim to exclude, disparage, and render powerless these individuals, are against the constitutional principles.
Furthermore, the court cited the AfD's cooperation with right-wing extremist groups and organizations, as well as their antisemitic statements, denigration of the liberal democratic basic order, and questioning of the democratic principle as contributing factors to their classification.
The President of the Saxon Verfassungsschutz, Dirk-Martin Christian, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, stating that it confirmed the workings of their office.
