Over 1,000 German Jurists Support Call for AfD Party Ban
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Over a thousand German lawyers, judges, and prosecutors have signed an open letter calling for a ban on the AfD party.
- They argue the AfD's policies violate the fundamental principle of human dignity enshrined in Germany's constitution.
- The signatories urge the government to initiate proceedings at the Federal Constitutional Court to have the party declared unconstitutional.
More than a thousand legal professionals in Germany have publicly backed calls for a ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In an open letter addressed to the federal government and members of the Bundestag, 1,051 lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and legal experts urged the initiation of proceedings to have the AfD declared unconstitutional.
For jurists, it is a duty to stand up for the human dignity of all people.
The signatories, organized by the Republican Lawyers' Association (RAV), emphasized their duty to defend human dignity. "This includes resolutely combating a party like the AfD, which contradicts the fundamental values of our constitution," stated RAV chairwoman Angela Furmaniak. She asserted that Article 21, Paragraph 2 of the German Basic Law provides the instrument for a party ban, which she believes must now be employed.
This includes resolutely combating a party like the AfD, which contradicts the fundamental values of our constitution.
The open letter cites a legal opinion commissioned by the Society for Freedom Rights, which analyzed over three million data points. This analysis concluded that the AfD's political platform violates the constitutional principles of human dignity and democracy, rendering it unconstitutional.
The Basic Law gives us an instrument with the party ban according to Article 21 Paragraph 2 GG, which must finally be used.
The legal professionals expressed fears of "serious damage to democracy" and a "threat to many people" should the AfD succeed in implementing its "constitutionally hostile policies." They are urging the government to take "immediate steps" to file a motion with the Federal Constitutional Court. Thus far, responses from Bundestag members to the open letter have been described as "very limited."
otherwise, jurists fear 'serious damage to democracy and the threat to many people' should the AfD succeed in implementing its constitutionally hostile policies.
Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.