Germany: Resumption of deportations to Syria after 15 years, with the return of a convicted asylum seeker.
Germany has deported a convicted 37-year-old Syrian citizen to Damascus, in the first such deportation since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. This step marks a significant shift in German deportation and asylum policies, raising concerns among refugee and human rights organizations.
The man served a prison sentence in North Rhine-Westphalia for armed robbery, physical assault, and extortion. Before his deportation on a commercial flight, the German authorities revoked his protective status and refused to extend his residence permit. He had arrived in Germany in 2015 and lived for several years in the city of Gelsenkirchen.
Earlier the same day, a convicted Afghan national was also deported to Afghanistan, marking the second case within a week. These operations reflect Germany's broader policy under Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to gradually resume the deportation of criminals and convicts who pose a security threat to Syria and Afghanistan.
Germany had suspended deportations to Syria in 2012 due to the civil war, but improvements in some areas and the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government prompted a reconsideration of deportation processes. Although the country is not fully stable, large parts have returned to a state of relative peace, under the leadership of transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa, who oversaw indirect elections in most provinces.
Authorities confirm that deportation will be limited to exceptional cases of dangerous criminals, as living conditions in Syria remain extremely difficult due to damaged infrastructure and difficulty accessing basic services. Germany has pledged to increase humanitarian aid to support reconstruction and voluntary return, while the European Union continues to issue recommendations to assess each asylum case individually.