Sachsen-Anhalt revokes weapon permits for 17 AfD members

In the German state of Sachsen-Anhalt, authorities have revoked the weapon and hunting permits of 17 members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. An additional 122 cases are currently under review.

This action follows a ruling by the Higher Administrative Court in Magdeburg, which determined that the state can revoke permits to minimize potential risks to the public before crimes or damages occur. Because the AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt has been classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as ‘assured right-wing extremist,’ membership in the party can impact an individual's legal reliability under Section 5 of the Weapons Act.

One affected individual, Marcel Pries, a local politician and former soldier, has already been forced to sell his firearms. Pries has contested the decision, arguing that his membership does not make him an extremist and that his political statements have been misinterpreted by authorities.