Austrian authorities have officially banned German climate activist Anja Windl — known widely as “Climate Shakira” — from living in or entering Austria for the next two years.
The decision comes from the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA), claiming that Windl poses a serious risk to public order and safety because of her involvement in climate protests and her role in mobilizing activists.
Windl, who’s been living in Austria since 2017 and was one of the main faces of the ‘Last Generation Austria’ climate movement, is accused of helping to recruit new activists and holding demonstrations that crossed the line from peaceful protest to intentionally disrupting public peace.
Her lawyer, Ralf Niederhammer, claimed the whole case was baseless and said that the accusations — including that Windl wants to change Austria’s political situation — are at odds with the fundamental principles of living in a democracy.
He confirmed Windl’s intention to appeal the decision to the Federal Administrative Court, which pauses the deadline for his client to leave the country.
Windl herself isn’t planning on going anywhere voluntarily. As reported by Exxpress, she described the ban as an obvious attempt to silence peaceful protest and said the state is trying to normalize crackdowns on political dissent. “Austria has been my home for seven years. I’m not leaving,” she said.
The case against her started back in March 2023, when the authorities first began looking into whether to terminate her right to stay in the country.
Windl is still under investigation by the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office over allegations of being part of a criminal organization and causing serious property damage during climate protests. Those cases are still ongoing.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the decision to ban her from Austria is administrative, aimed at protecting public order, and entirely separate from any criminal investigations.
