Correction

Various online media outlets are falsely claiming that the city of Jena is financing a meeting place for the left-wing extremist autonomous scene through convoluted channels. This is said to involve an amount of over 41,000 euros, which was paid over a period of five years for this purpose.

The claim that the city finances a meeting place for the extremist scene is false.

It is correct that the amount mentioned was paid to the "Youth, Action and Project Workshop" (JAPS) in the years 2020 to 2024. This amount was also used to fund materials and event and project costs over the entire period, so that the link to the direct financing of a venue has been constructed. Even if these grants include costs for the use of premises, this serves the purpose of JAPS' youth work. The claim that the "Youth, Action and Project Workshop" operates a meeting place for extremist groups is not substantiated by anything - even the articles mentioned in the online media only refer to unnamed scene insiders. At this point, it is important to note that the DJR's statutes apply to all affiliated associations - they state: "The members of the Demokratischer Jugendring Jena are committed to the free democratic basic order."

The assertion that the payments are made via convoluted channels in order to conceal them is untenable. It is correct that the funds - as in other municipalities - are made available on a legal basis to promote youth association work. The grants are paid out as a total budget to the Demokratischer Jugendring e.V. (DJR) as an umbrella organization for the individual member associations. These associations cover a broad spectrum of areas of youth involvement - be it sports, music, model making, church work, STEM subjects or charitable activities. The DJR has its own committees and control mechanisms for the review and payment of funding. The use of funds for the intended purpose is also formally audited annually by the city on the basis of cost accounting documents.

The assertion that the city is funding a meeting place for the extremist scene is therefore inaccurate.

An important note at the end: Monitoring the use of rooms is not the original task of the Youth Welfare Office. It is not a supervisory authority that controls the content or personnel of a youth welfare association, but is committed to promoting participation. Political self-organization of young people is to be respected, even if the content is controversial - as long as it remains within the framework of the constitution and there are no indications of activities that are harmful to young people or relevant to youth protection. This cannot be seen in view of the currently only constructed connections.