In Germany’s Lower Saxony state, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its anti-immigrant rhetoric, featured church buildings in its election posters ahead of the upcoming local elections, sparking a backlash from numerous church communities in the region.

Church administrations stated that the visuals in question were used without permission and that the AfD and Christian faith were incompatible from their understanding.

“CHURCH BUILDINGS CANNOT BE USED FOR POLITICAL PROPAGANDA”

The administration of the Protestant Church in Bramsche, near the city of Osnabrück, emphasized that the AfD’s political views and the Christian faith are incompatible. The church administration announced its opposition to the use of church buildings for political party propaganda. The statement declared that the use of church spaces and symbols for political objectives that contradict the fundamental values of the church is unacceptable.

According to the Hannover Protestant Church administration, approximately six different instances are known where AfD used church buildings in its local election posters. Alexander Hensel, a democracy researcher from Göttingen University, stated that similar posters had been used in a limited number of local elections in other states previously.

The Hannover Church Administration advised local communities to openly distance themselves from the AfD’s use of church photographs. However, some church representatives also expressed the view that bringing too much attention to the issue could provide additional visibility for the AfD.

“AFD ARGUED THAT CREATING AN IMPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS SUPPORT WAS NOT INTENDED”

The AfD Osnabrück District Organization, however, argued that the church visuals were used solely to establish a regional connection with the localities and stated that creating an impression of religious support was not intended. It claimed that the aim was not to create an impression that church communities or clergy supported the party.

BabaAjans/HANNOVER