German court backs intelligence agency's designation of far

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s domestic intelligence agency was justified in putting the far-right Alternative for Germany under observation for suspected extremism, a court ruled Monday, rejecting an appeal from the opposition party.

The administrative court in Muenster ruled in favor of the BfV intelligence agency, upholding a 2022 decision by a lower court in Cologne. The decision means the agency can continue to observe the party.

The court found that there was a sufficient legal basis for the designation, while stressing that the step doesn’t inevitably lead to the party being designated a proven case of right-wing extremism.

Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has strongly rejected the designation and portrayed it as a political attempt to discredit the party. Roman Reusch, a member of its national leadership, said the party will seek to appeal. Peter Boehringer, a deputy leader, complained that the court hadn’t taken up “hundreds” of requests for evidence.