Whether it’s the climate protest on the southeastern tangent of Vienna or the roadblock in Klagenfurt: climate activist Anja Windl is at the forefront. The 26-year-old woman is considered one of the faces of the “last generation”. Now the authorities want to expel the German from Austria – she stubbornly resists.
“If the Austrian immigration and asylum authority tries to deport you to Germany, but the sun is shining,” Anja Windl wrote on Instagram, linked to a selfie. In fact, she is threatened with a residence ban in Austria. She will be questioned on Thursday morning at the regional office of the Federal Office for Asylum and Immigration (BFA) in Leoben, Styria. The reason given by the BFA in the summons was the “investigation of a termination of stay measure”.
Public safety at risk?
It’s unclear why Windl might be turned off. The ÖVP-led Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that “for data protection reasons” no information could be given about the case. In principle, however, a residence ban can be issued against EU citizens “if their personal behavior endangers public order or security”, according to a spokesperson. In any case, the personal conduct must “represent a real, current and significant danger affecting a fundamental interest of society,” the statement said.
Although the 26-year-old, who studies in Klagenfurt, has been subject to several administrative fines after she was taped, these are not yet legally binding, she insists: “It’s absolute madness.” Windl reports that after an action in Klagenfurt, an identity check was carried out as usual. “My data was then also forwarded to the aliens police,” says Windl. Subsequently, she received the call from the authorities for the appointment in Styria. If Windl actually gets a residence ban, she has already lodged an objection. “It’s not that easy to get me out of Austria,” says the student.
“Works as state repression”
Her lawyer Marcus Hohenecker made a similar statement on Wednesday. “The procedure acts as state repression against an activist,” Hohenecker said. “She lives in Austria and does nothing but exercise her democratic right to protest and freedom of assembly,” he said. “As an EU citizen, she will probably be able to collect and demonstrate where she lives.”
Also, it is “absurd in times of 1.3 degrees global warming and disastrous warnings from science” to accuse climate activists of endangering public safety. “The activist wants to protect public safety with her actions,” explains Hohenecker.
Deportation is the last resort
If a residence ban is actually imposed on the climate activist, this does not equate to deportation. According to the Ministry of the Interior, this is allowed for EU citizens if departure checks are necessary to maintain public order, if they fail to comply with their obligation to leave the country, or if they have returned despite a residence ban to Austria. An appeal against the expulsion cannot have suspensory effect if “immediate departure or immediate enforceability is required in the interests of public order or security”.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
