Protection against infiltration from the right

Right-wing extremists are constantly trying to infiltrate associations or initiatives - often inconspicuously.
Here you can find out how you can protect yourself legally and organisationally.

Many people think: "A non-profit or subsidised association must accept everyone."

This is not true.

A non-profit organisation is obliged to work for the general public, but not to accept everyone.

On the contrary: anyone who rejects the basic democratic order can be excluded ^.1

Explicitly state in your statutes that your association stands for democracy, diversity and human dignity - and that discriminatory behaviour is excluded.
In this way, you create the basis for excluding members with right-wing extremist attitudes ^.2

Your association does not have to accept every person.
Make sure that your articles of association do not provide for automatic membership ^.3
This allows you to reject applications with legal certainty.

Include a specific exclusion rule - e.g. for "right-wing extremist, racist, anti-Semitic or other anti-democratic attitudes" ^.4

This puts you on the safe side legally ^.5

Non-profit organisations are allowed to take a stand: You can comment critically on political parties or government bodies if it affects your issues and goals.

Important to know:

• You do not have to invite all parties to every event - but you are also not allowed to promote individual parties.
• You are allowed to criticise individual programmes or measures,
  as long as you do not actively support a party or campaign for it.

This way you remain politically effective - and legally safe ^.6