Germany Opens Hotline for Threatened Dissidents

People who have fled authoritarian regimes and sought refuge in Germany can now contact the country’s domestic intelligence agency through a dedicated hotline for those facing threats or attacks from their former governments.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) says the service is aimed particularly at people from countries such as Russia, China and Iran who face intimidation, surveillance and other forms of repression, including attempted abductions and assassinations.

Reports from those affected are intended to help German intelligence better understand the methods used by authoritarian regimes and develop ways to counter them. The BfV says information provided through the hotline could also help identify those responsible for specific threats.

The initiative comes as Berlin prepares to expand the powers of its intelligence services, potentially giving them broader authority to collect data, access communications and disrupt attacks or operations conducted by foreign adversaries.

(Reuters, bak)