German court dismisses AfD lawmaker’s visa fraud claims over Afghan passports
The German Federal Constitutional Court has rejected a complaint from AfD lawmaker Stefan Keuter. He had accused the government of potentially issuing visas using forged Afghan passports. The court ruled that his claims lacked sufficient evidence and failed to show any violation of his rights.
Keuter’s complaint centred on whether former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock knew of an alleged directive to grant visas with counterfeit documents. He questioned the government’s handling of visa applications linked to forged Afghan passports.
The federal government responded by stating it had no record of visas being issued for forged travel documents. Officials clarified that a passport showing signs of forgery is legally ineligible for visa endorsement. They also explained that an email referenced in media reports involved a single case of family reunification—not the entry of a visa into a forged document.
During proceedings, Keuter did not present the documents he had cited in his parliamentary question. The court noted he failed to address the discrepancy between his assumptions and the government’s account. It also found he had not plausibly demonstrated how his rights might have been violated.
The ruling highlighted that Keuter did not explain why the government’s response was inadequate or what specific information was missing. As a result, the court dismissed the complaint for insufficient substantiation.
The decision confirms that the government’s position—that forged passports cannot legally receive visas—remains unchallenged. Keuter’s complaint was rejected due to a lack of evidence and failure to prove any rights violation. The case is now closed, with no further legal action expected.
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