Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in about 20 German cities on September 12, 2026, demanding a ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Key facts
- Tens of thousands of protesters marched across Germany.
- Demonstrations took place in roughly 20 cities.
- Cities involved included Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
- Protesters demanded the banning of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Tens of thousands of people marched across Germany on Saturday to protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, according to Al Jazeera. The demonstrations spanned roughly 20 cities nationwide.
Among the cities where protests took place were Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, three of the country’s largest urban centres. The scale of the turnout across multiple locations underscored the breadth of the mobilisation reported by Al Jazeera.
The central demand voiced by protesters was the banning of the AfD, a party that has become one of the most contentious forces in German politics. Marchers called for authorities to outlaw the party outright.
Al Jazeera reported the coordinated nature of the demonstrations, with actions unfolding simultaneously in about 20 cities on the same day. The report did not detail specific organisers or attendance figures for individual cities.
The protests reflect ongoing public debate in Germany over how to respond to the AfD’s growing prominence and the calls from some quarters for legal measures against the party.
Why it matters
Debates over whether to ban the AfD touch on core questions about democracy, free political participation and how societies respond to parties they consider extreme. Large-scale protests across many cities signal significant public engagement with these questions in one of Europe's most influential nations.
Frequently asked questions
Which German cities saw protests against the AfD?
According to Al Jazeera, protests took place in about 20 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
What were the protesters demanding?
Protesters demanded the banning of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, according to Al Jazeera.
How many people took part in the demonstrations?
Al Jazeera reported that tens of thousands of people marched across Germany, though specific figures for individual cities were not provided.