The climate activist Anja Windl not only garnered the displeasure of many drivers, she was also interrogated by the aliens police on Thursday for her actions – the German national is threatened with deportation from Austria. Although harsh criticism of the approach is expressed by scientists, for example, it appears that Windl would not be the first activist to be deported from the country.
Background to the possible deportation are protest actions in which the 26-year-old was involved as a member of the “Last Generation”. “I won’t be intimidated,” Windl said after the interrogation, but not exactly impressed.
Sprayer immediately removed from the country
Current events now evoke memories of a similar case from 2020 – as the daily newspaper “Der Standard” reported at the time, a political protest also became fatal for a German activist. He was accused of spray-painting anti-military slogans on the walls of a weapons company – according to police at the time, he had been caught red-handed.
Less than 24 hours later, he was brought across the German border under blue lights and accompanied by four WEGA agents. Apparently they didn’t know what to do with him there and immediately released him. Authorities in Austria saw the spraying student as a threat “causing fear and unrest among the population,” it said at the time.
The court agreed with the activists
He would be banned from traveling to Austria for ten years. Exactly the period that the Federal Office of Immigration and Asylum (BFA) deems necessary to implement a “positive change of heart” in its attitude to the justice system. The person concerned filed a complaint immediately after leaving the country – and ended up with the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG).
The BFA’s decision had thus become toothless, a threat to public safety could not be proven, the court clarified.
“Potential risk questioned in a petty way”
It is still open whether Windl himself will be taken out of the country. “My risk potential was questioned in a relatively narrow-minded way,” she explained after being questioned. In connection with this, she was accused, among other things, of preventing a protest at this year’s New Year’s concert and an action in Vienna in which the activists laid an oil trail at the distribution center in Vienna. According to Windl, paragraphs 89 of the Criminal Code (endangerment of physical safety) and 176 of the Criminal Code (deliberate endangerment of society) form the basis for this.
Expert sees ‘no reason for expulsion’
European legal expert Walter Obwexer of the University of Innsbruck was critical of the case in the Ö1 “Morgenjournal” on Thursday. Mere administrative violations, even if valid, cannot be grounds for deportation, Obwexer said. That would require “first a serious crime, such as very serious bodily harm or murder or robbery, and then the risk of another crime being committed,” Obwexer said.
“Having only committed a serious crime and been convicted of it without the risk of another crime being committed is also not sufficient for deportation.”
Last generation “bewildered”
Criticism also came from the “Last Generation” itself: Their press spokesman Florian Wagner was “bewildered” in a broadcast: “This approach seems incompetent to me. All the lawyers we interviewed consider eviction completely disproportionate. Ensuring climate protection requires more competence. Unfortunately decision-makers do not dare to tackle this urgent task,” Wagner criticized.
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.
