On June 12, 2026, the Technical University (TU) Berlin moved several lectures off campus and changed the program titles of several sessions scheduled to take place during the “Take Back the Future” student congress, deeming them overly critical of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The congress, which ran from June 12 to 14, drew 1,900 participants to the university campus. Organized by the Socialist-Democratic Student Association (SDS), the congress intended to provide a collaborative space for networking, training, debate, and strategic development.

According to SDS statements on social media, prior to the event, a lawyer contacted TU and threatened legal action against the Congress. The lawyer invoked state principles of political neutrality, which require that German universities remain neutral on party politics and provide sufficient space for all political opinions. In response, TU Berlin altered ten program titles and moved four lectures to locations off campus.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a university intervening in a previously approved on-campus event, apparently in response to pressure from members outside the university community. Higher education leaders should respect academic freedom by refraining from politically or ideologically motivated restrictions on academic activity. Attempts to limit academic discussion and exchange undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/management/linker-kongress-hat-mit-inhaltlichen-einschnitten-stattgefunden-7750
https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/doch-keine-absage-jugendkongress-an-der-tu-berlin-findet-nach-kompromiss-statt-15708791.html
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/universitaet/verantwortung/policy-aktionen-proteste/index.html
https://take-back-the-future.com/