AfD Plans to End Agreement on Church Sanctuary
Berlin, November 15, 2024 – The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has announced its intention to terminate the agreement on church sanctuary, which has been in place for over three decades. The party claims that the agreement is outdated and no longer reflects the current security situation in Germany.
The agreement, which was first established in 1983, provides protection for individuals seeking refuge in churches and other religious institutions. It allows these individuals to remain in these safe havens for a limited time, pending the resolution of their asylum cases.
However, the AfD argues that the agreement has been abused in recent years. The party claims that some individuals have used church sanctuary as a way to evade deportation after their asylum applications have been rejected.
“The agreement on church sanctuary is outdated and no longer fits the current security situation in our country,” said AfD leader Tino Chrupalla. “We can no longer afford to provide safe haven for individuals who have no right to protection in Germany.”
Chrupalla said that the AfD will be working with the new government to terminate the agreement as soon as possible. He added that the party will also be seeking to introduce new measures to prevent the abuse of church sanctuary.
The announcement by the AfD has been met with criticism from church leaders and human rights groups. The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has called on the government to uphold the agreement, arguing that it is a matter of human decency and Christian charity.
“The agreement on church sanctuary is an important part of our country’s commitment to protecting the vulnerable,” said EKD Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm. “We urge the government to maintain this agreement and to continue to provide protection for those who seek it in our churches.”
Human Rights Watch has also expressed concern about the AfD’s plans. The organization’s Germany director, Wenzel Michalski, said that the termination of the agreement would have “devastating consequences” for asylum seekers.
“Church sanctuary is a lifeline for many people who are fleeing persecution and violence,” said Michalski. “Terminating the agreement would be a cruel and inhumane act, and it would send a terrible message to the world about Germany’s commitment to human rights.”
It remains to be seen whether the new government will support the AfD’s proposal to end church sanctuary. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is likely to lead the next government, has expressed support for the agreement in the past. However, the party has also said that it is open to discussing reforms to the agreement that would prevent abuse.
AfD will Vereinbarung zum Kirchenasyl beenden
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