In a significant move, Germany has deported 28 Afghan nationals to their homeland, marking the first such action since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The deportations, which took place early Friday morning, involved individuals who were all convicted criminals, according to government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit.
The deportees flown from Leipzig to Kabul on a Qatar Airways charter jet, following months of secret negotiations facilitated by Qatar. This operation underscores Germany’s commitment to maintaining national security, as emphasized by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “Our security counts, our constitutional state acts,” Faeser stated, thanking federal police and state authorities for their cooperation.
The timing of the deportations raised eyebrows, occurring just a week after a deadly knife attack in Solingen, where the suspect, a Syrian asylum seeker, linked to the Islamic State militant group. This incident has intensified the debate over immigration policies in Germany, especially with regional elections approaching in Saxony and Thuringia, where anti-immigration parties are expected to perform well.
Germany’s decision to deport these individuals comes amid ongoing concerns about the safety and human rights situation in Afghanistan. Amnesty International has criticized the move, arguing that Afghanistan remains unsafe and that the deportations violate international law. However, the German government maintains that the deportees had no right to stay in the country due to their criminal convictions12.
This development highlights the complex and often contentious nature of immigration and deportation policies in Europe, as countries balance national security concerns with humanitarian obligations.
