The federal government is working with the Mission Lifeline organization in the Afghanistan admission program, whose founder, chairman and spokesman, Axel Steier, made controversial statements on Twitter. According to a response from the Federal Ministry of the Interior by Nancy Faeser (SPD) to an inquiry from the Union faction in the Bundestag, which is available to “Welt”, Mission Lifeline is still active as a reporting authority in the Afghanistan admissions program.
“The funny life as white bread will soon be over!”
In his request, CDU domestic politician Detlef Seif quoted some of Steier’s controversial tweets: “Everyone hopes for improvement, for an end to racism and isolationism. I’m afraid that won’t happen as long as Germany exists. It’s all so solidified and anchored in the regular structures, it can’t be solved with reforms.” In another tweet, Steier wrote: “The funny life as white bread will soon be over!” and “The dehomogenization of society is progressing. I support that with my work.”
The Department of the Interior emphasizes in its response that Mission Lifeline currently meets the criteria as a reporting entity for the federal admissions program. If reporting bodies do not comply with the framework set out by the federal government, appropriate measures will be discussed, including the possibility of ending cooperation with a reporting body. According to the ministry, this regulation also applies to Mission Lifeline. However, Steier’s controversial statements are not commented on in the answer.
Steier rejects allegations
Seif criticizes the federal government for apparently having no objection to racism when it is directed at people with white skin. He considers it “dubious” that non-governmental organizations such as Mission Lifeline can make an important pre-selection in the federal admissions program and demands that the state ensure that such organizations are based on the Basic Law.
When asked by “Welt”, Axel Steier explained that his tweet on the policy of isolation was a sociological description of the situation in Germany and did not express a wish. The dehomogenization tweet, on the other hand, was a satirical, provocative reaction to a right-wing troll. Steier emphasizes that the informed reader should be able to classify these tweets.
