section_path: Ideology and platform/German nationalism/Immigration, multiculturalism and Islam
section_name: Immigration, multiculturalism and Islam
paragraph_text: Immigration, multiculturalism and Islam
  
  AfD describes German national identity as under threat both from European integration and from the presence and accommodation of immigrants and refugees within Germany. Former leader Petry said in March 2016: "I'm not against immigration, but... the economic and social consequences of migration on both home and host countries are equally momentous.... The immigration of so many Muslims will change our culture. If this change is desired, it must be the product of a democratic decision supported by a broad majority. But Ms. Merkel simply opened the borders and invited everybody in, without consulting the parliament or the people."
  
  In its programme, AfD wants to end what it describes as mass immigration and focus on taking in small numbers of skilled immigrants who are expected to integrate into society and speak German. It encourages German nationals to have more children, as opposed to trying to boost the German population through foreign migration. The party wants to review EU freedom of movement rules and states that immigrants must be employed and contribute to social security through paying taxes for at least four years before being allowed to receive state benefits. AfD calls for mass deportations of foreign born criminals with multiple citizenship or permanent residency. The party describes the Geneva Convention on Refugees as "outdated", calls for stricter vetting of refugees, and believes the German government should invest in special economic and safe zones in third world nations as opposed to taking in large numbers of asylum seekers without background checks.
  
  AfD is critical of multiculturalism in Germany. The party favours banning the burqa, the Islamic call to prayer in public areas and the construction of new minarets, ending foreign funding of mosques and putting imams through a state vetting procedure.
  
  AfD began to employ anti-Muslim rhetoric during the leadership of Petry, who responded positively to comparisons between the party and Pegida. In 2016 the party adopted several anti-Muslim positions and stated in its manifesto that "Islam does not belong to Germany. Its expansion and the ever-increasing number of Muslims in the country are viewed by the AfD as a danger to our state, our society, and our values." The party has run a billboard campaign that explicitly referenced the far-right Eurabia conspiracy theory, and the party has been seen to have been strongly influenced by, and to be a part of the counter-jihad movement.
  
  In January 2025 the Karlsruhe branch of the AfD initiated a controversial campaign by distributing flyers resembling flight tickets labeled "Abschiebetickets" ("deportation tickets") in mailboxes. These flyers included a QR code linking to AfD Karlsruhe's website and were intended as promotional material for the upcoming Bundestag elections. The action prompted investigations by the criminal police on suspicions of incitement to hatred (Volksverhetzung).
  
  In January 2025, after a deadly knife attack perpetrated by an Afghan migrant, who had no residence permit, the CDU issued a motion regarding migration into the federal parliament, which attained a majority due to the AfD voting alongside the CDU. With this motion, CDU leader Friedrich Merz ignored his own proposal, uttered in November 2024, to only put questions to the vote that would find a majority without the AfD. The Bundestag went on to reject the CDU's proposed legislation a few days later, largely due to a dozen CDU legislators abstaining, a decision seen to be sparked by the AfD-related controversy.