Young alternative classified as extremists

The claim

The Cologne Administrative Court has decided that the Junge Alternative (JA) can be classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a confirmed extremist effort, as evidence of anti-constitutional efforts has become certain.

Our conclusion

The judgment is based on the JA's continued spread of a ethnic concept based on ethnic origins, massive anti-immigrant and anti-Islam agitation, and connections to groups classified as anti-constitutional. This confirms the right-wing extremism classification.

The focus is on the decision of the Cologne Administrative Court. It marks a significant moment in dealing with organizations that exhibit extremist tendencies.

Young alternative as a secured extremist endeavor

The Junge Alternative (JA), the youth organization of the AfD, was classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a “secure right-wing extremist effort”. This classification was made after intensive observation and has now been confirmed by the court.

The decision underlines the concern about anti-constitutional intentions within the JA, which became evident through the spread of an exclusive concept of the people, anti-immigrant and anti-Islam rhetoric, and connections to other extremist groups.

What is it about?

The Junge Alternative had been under observation by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution since 2019 as a suspected case of right-wing extremism. Over the years, there has been increasing evidence of anti-constitutional efforts, which in 2023 led to the classification as a confirmed right-wing extremist effort. The AfD and the JA responded with an urgent application against this classification, which has now been rejected by the Cologne Administrative Court.

The court found that the JA represents a ethnic concept of ethnicity, agitates against foreigners and Islam and maintains connections to anti-constitutional groups. These factors justify the classification as a confirmed extremist effort.

Our assessment of the topic

The court's decision confirms serious concerns about the activities and ideological orientation of Junge Alternative. The consistent use of right-wing extremist narratives and the spread of enemy images against migrants and Muslims, coupled with the relativization of democratic principles, are clear indicators of extremist efforts.

This decision is an important signal that state institutions are actively taking action against efforts that threaten the democratic order and human dignity.

Facts on the topic

The assessment and classification of political organizations by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is based on a careful examination of activities, statements and connections. In the case of the JA, several factors were considered to justify the classification as right-wing extremist:

Völkisch-descended concept of the people: A central element of right-wing extremist ideology that propagates an exclusive, descent-based definition of the “German people”.
Anti-immigrant and Islamophobic agitation: The JA spreads generalizing and derogatory statements against migrants and Muslims, which violates the principles of human dignity.
Connections to anti-constitutional groups: The JA maintains contacts with organizations that are classified as extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which underlines its ideological orientation.

Questions and answers on the topic:

Question 1: What does the classification of the JA as a confirmed extremist effort mean?
Answer 1: This classification means that the JA is viewed as an organization whose activities and ideologies pose a concrete threat to the democratic order and human dignity.

Question 2: Why is this decision important?
Answer 2: It signals that extremist efforts within the political spectrum are taken seriously by state authorities and treated accordingly.

Question 3: What were the main reasons for classifying JA as right-wing extremist?
Answer 3: The main reasons were the spread of a ethnic concept based on ethnic origins, xenophobic and Islamophobic rhetoric and connections to other extremist groups.

Question 4: What can the JA and the AfD do about this decision?
Answer 4: You can appeal the decision to the Higher Administrative Court in order to have the decision reviewed.

Question 5: How do political and social actors react to this decision?
Answer 5: The decision is seen by many as confirmation of the need to take active action against extremism and to protect democracy.

Conclusion

The decision of the Cologne Administrative Court to classify the Junge Alternative as a confirmed extremist effort is a clear signal against extremism. It underlines the importance of vigilance and the use of constitutional means in the fight against ideologies that threaten the basic values of democracy and human dignity.

This case shows that extremism in all forms must be taken seriously and combated consistently in order to maintain the stability and integrity of our democratic institutions.

Source: Cologne Administrative Court

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Court confirms: Young alternative classified as extremist