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 previously been convicted of crimes in Germany.
The decision to carry out these deportations was made after intensive internal consultations. The federal government emphasized that the safety of the German population takes priority. For this reason, individuals who have committed serious crimes and whose stay in Germany is therefore no longer tolerated were specifically selected.
To carry out these flights, Germany worked with third countries, as there are currently no direct diplomatic relations with the Taliban government in Kabul. This cooperation made it possible to organize the repatriation safely despite the difficult political situation in Afghanistan. The federal government stated that it had proceeded very carefully in the selection of the individuals.
The topic of deportations has long been a subject of controversial debate in Germany. While proponents demand the consistent enforcement of existing laws, human rights organizations are expressing major concerns regarding the security situation for returnees in Afghanistan. The government now faces the task of weighing both legal requirements and humanitarian aspects in future decisions.