Latest news with #Windl
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
German climate activist banned from living in Austria over protests
A prominent German climate activist has been issued with a two-year ban from living in Austria, dpa learnt on Monday. Anja Windl, a 28-year-old psychology student who has lived in Austria since 2017, poses a "significant threat to public order and security," according to a letter from the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) seen by dpa. The agency said Windl's participation in recent protests - including one outside the headquarters of the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in January - proved her "massively querulous tendencies." The activist was accused of writing the phrase "You stink of brown shit" on the ÖVP property in protest at the party's talks with the far-right Freedom Party of Austria over the formation of a coalition. In German-speaking countries, brown is the colour associated with fascism, as the Nazis wore brown shirts and ties. The BFA also argued that Windl had demonstrated her "far-left motivations" by claiming to feed documents from Austrian authorities and courts to farm animals. Windl intends to lodge an appeal with the Federal Administrative Court within the four-week deadline. "I will not be intimidated," she told dpa. "In times of burgeoning fascism and a burning world, peaceful protest is necessary." Windl became well known in Austria for taking part in sit-in blockades and other protests as a member of the Austrian branch of the Last Generation climate movement. According to the BFA, the student has been detained more than 10 times for administrative offences, resulting in significant fines. As she was unable to pay the fines, Windl said she has served nine weeks in prison in 2024 and 2025, and was only able to avoid further time behind bars thanks to donations.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
German climate activist faces expulsion from Austria after ban
Austria has banned a German climate activist for two years, she said on Monday, adding she would fight the decision, which could see her expelled from the Alpine EU member. Anja Windl, who has been living in Austria for seven years, became known for her protests against climate change, including glueing herself on streets to stop traffic with the Last Generation group. In a decision Windl received last week, the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum issued the two-year ban, giving her one month to leave the country. The ban was issued after the German activist was found to pose a "danger for the public order and security", according to the decision seen by AFP. "This is highly problematic from a democratic perspective," Windl, a 28-year-old psychology student, told AFP, adding she would appeal the ban. "We are moving toward civilisational collapse, and instead of holding those responsible accountable, it is those who have peacefully advocated for the preservation of our livelihoods" who are targeted, she said. Her lawyer, Ralf Niederhammer, said he did not know of any other political activist being banned from Austria. Windl faces no criminal charges, he added. The interior ministry declined to comment on Windl's case but said that a "very precise and objective examination of the relevant facts" takes place before such bans are issued. Last Generation Austria said last year they were ending their protests as they no longer saw "any prospect of success". The group regularly made headlines since 2022 blocking streets and pouring black liquid over a screen protecting Gustav Klimt's masterpiece "Death And Life" in Vienna's Leopold Museum. Among their demands, they had called for climate protection to be enshrined as a fundamental right in the Austrian constitution. Last month, German prosecutors said they had charged five former members of Last Generation with offences including "forming a criminal organisation". Dozens of group members have previously faced criminal charges for offences such as damage to property and trespassing. Some have been convicted and fined, with a handful also given jail sentences of several months. The movement announced in February that it was reorganising itself into two new groups focusing on different climate and environment-related issues -- "Neue Generation" (New Generation) and "Widerstandskollektiv" (Resistance Collective). jza/kym/cw
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Climate Shakira' facing deportation from Austria over Just Stop Oil-style stunts
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 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. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
‘Climate Shakira' facing deportation from Austria over Just Stop Oil-style stunts
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.
