Fact check: Die aFD ist gefährlich.

1. Summary of the results

The statement about the AfD being dangerous is supported by substantial evidence from multiple authoritative sources. German courts have officially ruled the party as potentially extremist ^[1], and the Federal Constitutional Protection Office classified it as a "suspected case" in 2021 ^[2]. Several regional branches, specifically in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, have been officially classified as "proven to be right-wing extremist" ^[3]. The German Institute for Human Rights has explicitly identified the AfD as a right-wing extremist organization that has become increasingly radical since its founding in 2013 ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements should be considered:

• The party's evolution: The AfD has undergone significant radicalization since its founding in 2013 ^[4]
• Legal status: Multiple courts have upheld the classification of the AfD as potentially extreme, providing "sufficient evidence" of goals that run against human dignity and democracy ^[5]
• Specific concerns: The party's agenda reportedly includes:
• Creating a discriminatory two-tier society ^[1]
• Granting lesser legal status to non-ethnically German citizens ^[1]
• Potential abolishment of the rule of law ^[4]
• Possible implementation of ideas through "significant violence" ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement is quite broad and lacks specific context. Important considerations include:

• Counter-narrative: The AfD argues that intelligence services are weaponizing the term "extremism" to delegitimize the party ^[7]. However, this claim itself contains language that appears to reinforce concerns about the party's stance through conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric ^[7].
• Power dynamics: Several institutions benefit from or are involved in this narrative:
• State institutions: German courts and intelligence services maintain authority through their classifications
• The German Institute for Human Rights: Maintains its position as a watchdog for democratic values
• The AfD: Benefits from portraying itself as a victim of state persecution
• Traditional political parties: Benefit from the AfD's classification as extremist

The evidence from multiple official sources and institutions strongly supports concerns about the AfD's danger to democratic principles, though the party contests these characterizations.