Titled: "Climate Activist's Brief Stint in Vienna's Prison"
Vienna/Munich - The Regensburg-born Anja Windl, affectionately named "Climate Shakira" due to her resemblance to the Colombian singer, found herself in Vienna's Josefstadt prison last Wednesday (November 22). The Viennese prosecutor's office sought to extend her detention, citing an arrest during protests in front of the parliament that impeded traffic flow.
Why the lockup? Windl applied superglue, a special mix of quartz sand and adhesive, to the highway to stick herself there. Unfortunately, the adhesive's removal requires heavy machinery to scrape away the pavement surface, leading to over 5000 euros in damages. In Austria, this constitutes serious property damage.
Climate Shakira has faced legal troubles before, with two weeks in Munich's Stadelheim prison on her record. In Austria, her climate activism has even raised the prospect of her deportation due to repeated traffic obstructions and actions deemed a threat to public safety.
The Austrian Federal Office for Asylum and Immigration (BAF) pointed out her participation in sticker campaigns and the attempted storming of Vienna's New Year's Concert as evidence of her threat level. In an April 6 hearing, her case is still pending – stepped-up scrutiny being a clear consideration in the wake of her recent incarceration.
- Anja Windl was briefly detained in Vienna's Josefstadt prison for a highway obstruction during climate protests, leaving 5000 euros in damages.
- The Austrian authorities are considering deporting Windl to Germany due to her repeated traffic disruptions and potential threat to public safety, with her case still under review following an April 6 hearing by BAF.
- Although foreign media outlets covered her temporary imprisonment in Austria as a high-profile news item, "Climate Shakira" was released from custody in Klagenfurt after paying the remaining fine for an unspecified offense, unrelated to her climate activism.
- While Vienna remains central to the ongoing debate on climate activism, pre-trial detention, and potential deportation, some regional politicians like Oliver Grothmann in Munich voice their concerns about climate change and the need for climate protection measures.
- Amid the complex interplay between climate protection, public safety, and legal systems, Windl's case serves as a reminder of the potential consequences for activists who may cross legal boundaries in the pursuit of their causes.
[1] "Anja Windl fällt ausgeblendet," www.aussiedler-bote.de, November 24, 2023.
[3] "Anja Windl is already to be deported in Austria," Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, Bild.de.
