‘Climate Shakira' facing deportation from Austria over Just Stop Oil-style stunts

Yahoo

21-03-2025

Austria is attempting to deport a high-profile German climate activist known as 'Klima [climate] Shakira' after getting fed up with her Just Stop Oil-style road-blocking protests.
Anja Windl, 28, who has acquired the nickname due to her resemblance to the Colombian singer, says the Austrian authorities have mounted a legal bid to expel her from the country.Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Ms Windl said Austrian immigration authorities have decided her climate protests, which have included gluing herself to roads to block traffic, pose a public order threat.
'I've received the results of an evidence gathering exercise by the Austrian immigration office, which says my conduct presents a clear and present danger to public order due to a new allegation of property damage,' she said.
Ms Windl has previously revealed she was summoned to the Austrian foreign ministry over her climate stunts, which have brought roads to a standstill and infuriated Austrian commuters.
She has also taken part in protests against failed attempts by the Austrian People's Party [ÖVP], a centre-Right party, to form a coalition with the far-Right Freedom Party of Austria [FPÖ].
'Because of my protests against the ÖVP-FPÖ coalition negotiations, I face deportation from Austria,' said Ms Windl, whose methods are similar to those used by British climate groups such as Just Stop Oil.
Ms Windl added if the deportation proceedings continue she will launch an appeal to stop herself from being sent back to Germany.
'If I were issued with a residence ban or deportation, I would file an appeal with the federal administrative court. The fact that I have legal recourse is, just like deportation to Germany, a privilege that those seeking protection at Europe's external borders... do not have,' she added.
A spokesman for Austria's government told Bild deportations of EU citizens were allowed in cases where public order or security were at risk.
'The person's conduct must present an actual, present, and significant danger that affects a fundamental interest of society,' a spokesman said.
Ms Windl is a member of the German eco-activist movement Last Generation which, like Extinction Rebellion in the UK, has demanded radical climate reforms.
Earlier this month, the co-founder of Just Stop Oil and five other eco-activists had their prison sentences reduced at the UK Court of Appeal.
Roger Hallam and 15 of his co-conspirators were jailed for their roles in four demonstrations, which included climbing on gantries over the M25 and throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers.
However, they challenged their sentences – which their lawyers argued were 'manifestly excessive' – at the Court of Appeal.
Hallam was originally handed a record five-year sentence after a judge ruled he had 'crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic' by conspiring to block traffic on the M25 in November 2022.
But his sentence, which was the longest for non-violent protest in recent history, has now been reduced to four years.
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