Germany resumes deportations to Afghanistan
Germany has initiated its first deportations to Afghanistan since the suspension in 2021, sending back 28 “convicted offenders” to the Taliban-controlled nation. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Germany has deported 28 Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan, marking the first deportations to the Taliban-controlled country since the practice was halted in 2021. This decision follows Berlin's reversal of its ban on deportations to nations deemed unsafe.
The deportation comes after a tragic stabbing incident at a street festival in Solingen last week, which resulted in three fatalities and eight injuries. A 26-year-old Syrian man was arrested in connection with the attack, for which the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) has claimed responsibility, though no evidence has been provided.
According to Spiegel magazine, the first group of 28 deported Afghans consists exclusively of convicted criminals and was sent on a chartered Qatar Airways flight to Kabul on Friday.
“These were Afghan nationals, all of whom were convicted offenders who had no right to stay in Germany and against whom deportation orders had been issued,” stated Steffen Hebestreit, spokesperson for Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The operation was facilitated by two months of “secret negotiations” with Qatar, which acted as a mediator since Berlin lacks diplomatic relations with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. Hebestreit confirmed that Germany had sought assistance from key regional partners to aid the deportations but provided no further details.
“The Federal Government is committed to carrying out such deportations. Germany’s security interests clearly outweigh its interest in protecting criminals and dangerous individuals,” Hebestreit emphasized.
Berlin initially suspended deportations to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2021 over human rights concerns. Likewise, expulsions to Syria remain banned due to ongoing instability from its protracted civil war.
In June, following the killing of a police officer by an Afghan man in Mannheim, Chancellor Scholz expressed his support in parliament for deporting migrants who commit violent crimes back to their home countries, including Afghanistan and Syria.
Amid recent violent incidents, Scholz’s ruling coalition has faced heightened scrutiny from opposition parties, which have accused the government of failing to address the issue adequately over the years.
Germany, as the largest economy in the EU, continues to be a primary destination for undocumented migrants. In the previous year, the nation experienced a significant rise in immigration, with asylum applications increasing by 51% compared to the year before. The largest group of asylum seekers originated from Syria, followed by Turkey and Afghanistan.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
The deportation comes after a tragic stabbing incident at a street festival in Solingen last week, which resulted in three fatalities and eight injuries. A 26-year-old Syrian man was arrested in connection with the attack, for which the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) has claimed responsibility, though no evidence has been provided.
According to Spiegel magazine, the first group of 28 deported Afghans consists exclusively of convicted criminals and was sent on a chartered Qatar Airways flight to Kabul on Friday.
“These were Afghan nationals, all of whom were convicted offenders who had no right to stay in Germany and against whom deportation orders had been issued,” stated Steffen Hebestreit, spokesperson for Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The operation was facilitated by two months of “secret negotiations” with Qatar, which acted as a mediator since Berlin lacks diplomatic relations with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. Hebestreit confirmed that Germany had sought assistance from key regional partners to aid the deportations but provided no further details.
“The Federal Government is committed to carrying out such deportations. Germany’s security interests clearly outweigh its interest in protecting criminals and dangerous individuals,” Hebestreit emphasized.
Berlin initially suspended deportations to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2021 over human rights concerns. Likewise, expulsions to Syria remain banned due to ongoing instability from its protracted civil war.
In June, following the killing of a police officer by an Afghan man in Mannheim, Chancellor Scholz expressed his support in parliament for deporting migrants who commit violent crimes back to their home countries, including Afghanistan and Syria.
Amid recent violent incidents, Scholz’s ruling coalition has faced heightened scrutiny from opposition parties, which have accused the government of failing to address the issue adequately over the years.
Germany, as the largest economy in the EU, continues to be a primary destination for undocumented migrants. In the previous year, the nation experienced a significant rise in immigration, with asylum applications increasing by 51% compared to the year before. The largest group of asylum seekers originated from Syria, followed by Turkey and Afghanistan.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
