Germany resumes deportations to Afghanistan
The German government has deported people to Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban took power in 2021. A charter plane took off from Leipzig/Halle Airport early in the morning bound for Kabul. On board were several Afghan nationals who had been classified as criminals in Germany.
The decision to carry out these deportations follows a lengthy political debate in Germany. After a deadly knife attack in Mannheim in May of this year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany would once again increase the deportation of criminals and individuals considered a threat to their home countries. The federal government emphasized that the safety of its own population is the top priority.
To carry out the returns, Germany worked indirectly with Afghan authorities. Since the federal government does not maintain official diplomatic relations with the Taliban government, negotiations were conducted via third countries. This diplomatic support was necessary to enable the plane to land in Kabul.
The measure is causing controversial discussions in Germany. While supporters emphasize the consistent enforcement of existing laws and security, human rights organizations and some opposition politicians are expressing major concerns. They warn of the difficult human rights situation in Afghanistan and criticize the cooperation with the Taliban.
It remains to be seen whether this flight marks the beginning of a regular practice. The Federal Ministry of the Interior has announced that it will examine further cases in order to make the return of rejected asylum seekers and criminals more efficient in the future.