The German government deported 28 Afghan nationals to their homeland, stating that they were convicted criminals. The offenses of these individuals were not clarified by government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit. Chancellor Olaf Scholz supported the move, emphasizing that those who commit crimes cannot expect to be protected from deportation. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also defended the deportations as necessary for maintaining trust in the rule of law. However, Amnesty International’s secretary general in Germany, Julia Duchrow, criticized the deportations, claiming they were a response to political pressure and stating that Afghanistan is not safe.
Germany does not have diplomatic relations with the Taliban, making it challenging for the government to conduct these deportations. The move is unlikely to lead to a warming of relations between Germany and the Taliban, especially after recent laws were issued by the Taliban that restrict women’s freedoms. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned these morality laws. The deportations occurred after a deadly knife attack in Solingen involving a suspect who is a Syrian refugee. The suspect, who had evaded deportation the previous year, was arrested on suspicion of murder and ties to a terrorist organization.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Solingen attack, though the claim could not be independently verified. The incident has sparked debate over immigration policies, particularly ahead of regional elections in Saxony and Thuringia. Anti-immigration parties, including the populist Alternative for Germany, are expected to perform well in these elections. German officials, including Chancellor Scholz and Interior Minister Faeser, have pledged to make deportations easier and tighten knife laws in response to public concern over immigration and security issues. Previous incidents, such as a knife attack by an Afghan immigrant that left one police officer dead, have heightened calls for tougher measures.
The deportations of Afghan nationals back to their homeland come amid ongoing security concerns and debates over immigration policies in Germany. While the government defends the move as necessary for public safety and the rule of law, human rights organizations like Amnesty International have condemned the deportations, arguing that Afghanistan is not a safe country and that the deportations violate international law. The recent knife attack in Solingen by a Syrian refugee has further fueled calls for stricter immigration policies and tougher deportation measures in Germany. These issues are likely to remain contentious in the lead-up to regional elections and will continue to be a point of political debate in the country.
