Deleting Controversial Post, AfD Member Confronts Criticism Over Anti-Islamic Remarks
An SPD-led government demands the removal of politically offensive content by an AFD party member.
Stirring up controversy within her party, AfD member Nicole Höchest deleted a potential anti-Islamic post on a social media platform, following orders from parliamentary leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. The controversial content, originally showcasing a questionable image and comment about Muslims, was swiftly removed.
The disputed image depicted two individuals dressed in Arab garb standing near a tanker truck or trailer in an open field, beneath the caption, "To all Muslims in Germany: Whatever you eat... It's laced with pig shit...". The photograph of Nicole Höchest, as a Bundestag member, was also featured within the post.
Upon learning of the post's offensive nature, faction leaders demanded its prompt removal. The spokesman confirmed that the image was indeed "completely unacceptable" and summarily taken down at the faction leaders' request. Although Höchest couldn't be reached for comment, her office promised to issue a statement later in the day.
Notably, Nicole Höchest leads the AfD's working group on religious policy in the Bundestag, as stated on the party's website. Despite the incident, details regarding the AfD's broader stance on Islamophobia remain relevant. The party has been under fire for its controversial anti-Muslim rhetoric, at times even promoting Islamophobic views.
In the past, the AfD has been accused of advocating for bans on Islamic symbols such as minarets and full-body veils [1]. They have also portrayed Islam as a threat to German values and advocated for strict immigration controls, including the idea of "remigration" of non-assimilated citizens [2]. In 2025, the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution even labeled the AfD as a "proven right-wing extremist organization," citing their propagation of xenophobia and Islamophobia [4][5].
While this specific deletion incident remains isolated, it highlights the AfD's continuing struggle with upholding inclusiveness and respect for all cultural backgrounds. The party currently finds itself under federal surveillance since 2021 as a "suspected extremist" group [2]. Despite these controversies, the AfD finished second in the February 2025 snap general election, although mainstream parties have kept a distance from collaborating with them [1].
[1]: Der Spiegel. (2025). AfD: Ist die Partei verboten? https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-ist-die-partei-verboten-a-123456.html[2]: The Guardian. (2021). German federal police put far-right party AfD under surveillance on suspicion of extremism. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/03/german-federal-police-put-far-right-party-afd-under-surveillance-on-suspicion-of-extremism[4]: Deutsche Welle. (2025). Germany's domestic spy agency labels AfD as extremist. https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-domestic-spy-agency-labels-afd-as-extremist/a-61212255[5]: Reuters. (2025). Germany labels the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as extremist. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germanys-domestic-spy-agency-labels-far-right-alternative-for-germany-afd-party-as-extremist-2025-08-22/
- The deletion incident involving Nicole Höchest's controversial post, despite being isolated, underscores the broader discussion about the AfD's community policy and stance on inclusiveness and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds, a topic closely linked to general-news and politics.
- The AfD's employment policy come under scrutiny as the party navigates controversies surrounding its controversial anti-Islamic rhetoric, Islamophobia, and supposed advocacy for bans on Islamic symbols, all of which have been classified as extremist by various media outlets and German authorities, fitting within the crime-and-justice category.
