Court confirms German intelligence surveillance of ‘extremist’ AfD
Al JazeeraMay 22
Germany: Court Rules Intel Agency can Surveil 'Suspected Extremist' AfD
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The Facts
The Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine Westphalia on Monday upheld the findings of a lower court in Cologne, confirming that domestic intelligence services can continue to monitor the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a suspected extremist group.
Judges from the court in Münster found indications that the party may pursue goals against human dignity and democracy, as at least a faction wants to give second-rank status to German citizens with a migration background.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While it's true that Europe as a whole has seen a rise in far-right parties, none of them is as extreme as the AfD, which now stands for an authoritarian national radicalism based on social hierarchy and ethnic homogeneity. Democracy is at risk in Germany — it's up to state institutions and citizens to stop these dangerous developments.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's no secret that political elites in Germany have long sought to destroy the anti-globalist AfD, as its popularity consistently raises in eastern states and among young voters. As hypocritical as it seems, they have relied on lies to stigmatize, and threaten with a ban, the second most popular party in Germany under the guise of protecting democracy.