Germany Deports Afghan Asylum Seeker Without Criminal Record for First Time Since Taliban Takeover
Germany has deported an Afghan asylum seeker with no criminal record for the first time since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, marking a significant change in the country's deportation policy.
According to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the Afghan national became eligible for deportation after all legal options to remain in Germany had been exhausted. Authorities said his asylum application had been fully rejected through the legal process.
Dobrindt explained that the man had previously tried to settle in another European country but was found to be living there illegally. He was later transferred back to Germany under European migration procedures before being deported to Afghanistan.
The individual was one of 31 Afghan men returned to Afghanistan on a charter flight on Tuesday. German authorities stated that the other 30 deportees had criminal convictions, making this the first case involving an Afghan without a criminal record since deportations resumed.
The deportation represents a notable shift in Germany's approach to Afghan asylum cases. Until now, deportations to Afghanistan had largely focused on individuals convicted of serious crimes. This latest case is the first in which an Afghan asylum seeker was returned solely because his asylum claim was rejected.
Germany resumed deportations to Afghanistan in 2024 after suspending them following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. The policy continues to face criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that people returned to Afghanistan may face serious risks due to the country's security and human rights situation.
According to Reuters, Germany has deported more than 200 people to Afghanistan since removals resumed in 2024. Amnesty International has also reported that at least one deported Afghan was killed after returning to the country, raising further concerns over the safety of those sent back.