Climate fighter Anja Windl: Prohibition of residence in Austria!

Climate fighter Anja Windl: Prohibition of residence in Austria!

Leoben, Österreich - The 26-year-old German climate activist Anja Windl has received a two-year residence ban for Austria. This decision was made by the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs and Asylum (BFA) and now announced. The ban, which was issued more than two years after the start of the procedure, comes from the branch in Leoben. Windl and her lawyer Ralf Niederhammer have already confirmed the decision, whereby Niederhammer criticized the argument of the authority as unfounded.

The BFA justifies the ban on stay with a "serious danger to public order or security". Windl is accused of taking on a leading role in the recruiting of new members of the climate protection movement "Last Generation" and acting actively in the group's public relations work. In addition, she had appeared police several times due to suspected cases. An investigation by the Vienna public prosecutor's office is currently underway for suspected the formation of a criminal association and severe property damage to Windl and other members of the "last generation".

status and reactions

Niederhammer plans to submit a complaint to the Federal Administrative Court, which pushes the deadline for wind to leave the country. The activist has explained that she does not want to go from Austria voluntarily and sees the ban as an attempt to suppress peaceful protest. The BFA has been examining a possible foreign law measure against Windl since March 2023, which has been living in Klagenfurt since autumn 2017. The group that belongs to it protested, among other things, with transport blocks against the climate policy of the Austrian government.

Amnesty International has also spoken out and criticizes the criminalization of climate protests in Austria. The organization warns that the measures taken against Windl could intimidate other activists and calls on the Austrian government to protect the right to peaceful protest. The activist was invited by the BFA and plans to continue to work for climate protection despite the impending measures.

background and legal aspects

The Ministry of the Interior has clarified that the requirements for the right of residence are checked for EU citizens and that residence bans can also be imposed if there is a risk to public order or security. Experts express concerns that the information so far is not sufficient to justify a ban on a residence against Windl. The criticism of the decision of the BFA raises questions about dealing with climate activists in Austria and could have far -reaching consequences for the right to protest.

For many observers, the Windl case is another expression for the tension between the striving for climate protection and the reaction of authorities to civil disobedience. The further development remains to be seen, especially with regard to the potential calling that Windl could strive for.

For more detailed information on this topic, you can report the reports of Krone , Puls24 and kritisiert-dohlende-schiebung-von-deutscher-Klimaaktin"> Read the press.