The Administrative Court of Cologne rejected her urgent appeal today Alternative for Germany (AfD) against the decision of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution to classify its youth organization (JA) as “definitely extremist”.

The Court ruled that the Junge Alternative can definitely be classified as “extremist” by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, noting in addition that its unconstitutional efforts have also been found in a previous decision.

According to the Court, JA supports “massive xenophobic propaganda”, while he regards asylum seekers and migrants as “generally suspect and discredited”, who are often “depicted as criminals or their dignity is scorned”. JA continues to question the principle of democracy at the state and federal level, paralleling e.g. the Federal Republic with authoritarian regimes, while maintaining contacts with neo-Nazi organizations. Against the court decision, however, an appeal can be submitted to the Supreme Court of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Referring to today’s development, Federal Home Affairs Minister Nancy Fesser said the decision shows that “the tools of the rule of law are working to protect democracy” and added that “it is certified that we are dealing with an organization that has total contempt for humanity, with racism, with hatred against Muslims and attacks against our democracy.” The court decision was also welcomed by the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, who told the German News Agency (dpa) that his office’s assessment of the AfD youth organization was confirmed.