Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, announced plans to accelerate the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers, following the recent repatriation of 28 Afghans. Speaking to German media, Faeser confirmed that additional deportations to Afghanistan are anticipated in the near future.
The deportation in August marked the first return of Afghan migrants since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan.
The group was sent on a Qatar Airways flight as part of a broader effort to deport asylum seekers deemed “offenders” by German authorities. Faeser also indicated that Germany is considering the possibility of deporting Syrian asylum seekers with criminal records.
The German government’s move has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates. Human Rights Watch condemned the deportations, arguing that the conditions in Afghanistan under Taliban rule are too dangerous for returns.
The organization’s report highlighted a “catastrophic” human rights situation in Afghanistan, marked by widespread abuses, public floggings, and severe restrictions on women’s rights.
Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, also voiced opposition to the policy, criticizing European governments for attempting to deport Afghan migrants amid worsening conditions in Afghanistan. Amnesty International Germany echoed these concerns. Julia Duchrow, Amnesty’s Secretary General in Germany, described the deportations as “political theater” tied to election cycles and accused the government of violating international obligations.
“All people have human rights, and no one should be deported to a country where they risk torture or persecution,” Duchrow said in a statement.
The German government has maintained that it is acting within its legal rights, but as international pressure mounts, questions persist about the safety and legality of deporting asylum seekers to Afghanistan.
