German court upholds classification of AfD Niedersachsen as extremist

The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) of Lüneburg has upheld the classification of the AfD Niedersachsen state association as a group of significant importance for observation by the constitutional protection agency. The court rejected the party's appeal, confirming that the group is classified as being of proven right-wing extremist orientation.

In its ruling, the court stated there is sufficient evidence of a racist understanding of the people, systematic hostility toward Muslims, and attacks on democracy and the rule of law. The judges noted that the party promotes an ethnic-cultural understanding of the German people that is coupled with racism, leading to the marginalization and disparagement of German citizens with a migration background.

The decision allows intelligence services to continue using surveillance methods, including wiretapping and the use of undercover informants. While this ruling confirms the interim classification, the main proceedings at the Hannover Administrative Court are still pending. Lower Saxony's Interior Minister, Daniela Behrens, welcomed the decision, expressing confidence that the classification will be upheld in the final proceedings.