“Banning the AfD protects human dignity. It doesn’t get any more charitable than that.”

Following a weeks-long campaign by right-wing media, the Berlin Tax Office is threatening to revoke the nonprofit status of the organization behind the “Ban the AfD Now!” campaign.

Berlin, September 1, 2026 – The Berlin Tax Office for Corporations I is investigating whether the Association of Victims of the Nazi Regime – Federation of Anti-Fascists (VVN-BdA) is engaged in “political activity that is impermissible under nonprofit law.” In its letter dated July 17, 2026, the agency states that the “current campaign to ban the AfD, as well as related activities … may jeopardize its status as a nonprofit organization.” The agency also refers to potential liability regarding donation receipts that have already been issued.

“The Basic Law emerged from the experience of National Socialism and embodies an anti-fascist promise. Calling for a ban on the AfD means fulfilling that promise. This is not an impermissible policy, but rather serves the public good in accordance with the Constitution itself. Human dignity is inviolable—and that is precisely what the AfD attacks when it discriminates against people based on their origin and seeks to eliminate political opponents," says Felix Jochim, the campaign's press spokesperson.

For weeks, Apollo News, Junge Freiheit, and Nius have been calling for the organization's nonprofit status to be revoked—with the aim of crippling it financially and thus halting its efforts against the AfD.

“Whether and what a government agency investigates should not depend on who shouts the loudest,” said Jochim. “That’s a scandal. Because what has changed is not what the VVN-BdA is doing, but who is complaining.” The call to ban a political party is nothing new for the VVN-BdA: When it called for a ban on the NPD starting in 2007, the tax office did not object. “Senator for Finance Stefan Evers (CDU) oversees the tax office. He must acknowledge that the fight against right-wing extremism is a public-benefit cause—his department is currently questioning that,” Jochim continued.

The VVN-BdA case will determine whether nonprofit organizations will be allowed to continue their efforts against the AfD. The campaign therefore supports the petition “Antifascism Must Remain a Public-Benefit Activity” (German title: „Antifaschismus muss gemeinnützig bleiben") and calls on everyone to sign it.

Further background information, a link to the petition, and a statement by Holocaust survivor and VVN member Ernst Grube can be found here.

About the campaign: “Defend Human Dignity – Ban the AfD Now!” is the largest civil society campaign calling for a ban on the AfD, comprising 33 local groups and over 60 partner organizations. It calls on the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, and the federal government to file a motion for a ban with the Federal Constitutional Court. Learn more at afd-verbot.jetzt.

Press contact: presse@afd-verbot.jetzt