German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reaffirmed that his government will continue deporting Afghan nationals deemed “criminals,” despite mounting criticism from human rights organizations and members of the European Parliament. Critics argue that Afghanistan’s deteriorating human rights situation under Taliban rule makes deportations inhumane.
Speaking during a debate at the European Union summit in Brussels, Scholz defended Germany’s decision, citing the deportation of a “significant number of Afghan criminals” back to Afghanistan. He stressed that the process, while complex, would persist.
In August, the first deportation flight since the Taliban’s return to power transported 28 Afghan migrants from Germany to Kabul on a Qatar Airways flight. Scholz noted that this operation faced challenges but set a precedent for future deportations. “It has been complicated, but we were able to do it, and such returns will happen again,” Scholz said, adding that Germany also aims to explore similar deportations for Syrian offenders, though he acknowledged the added complexities involved.
However, the German chancellor emphasized that deportations must be carried out “wisely” and with discretion. “For weeks, I could only say we were working on making it possible to deport criminals to Afghanistan. People kept asking when this would happen. And then, at some point, it did. But if I had given interim information, it might never have happened,” Scholz said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned Germany’s decision, accusing the country of ignoring the “catastrophic” human rights situation in Afghanistan. HRW’s report detailed widespread abuses under Taliban rule, including public floggings and the near-total exclusion of women from public life. The organization argued that Afghanistan is not a safe destination for deportees, regardless of their criminal history.
During the EU debate, Scholz also called for an investigation into UN reports of mass killings of Afghans by the Taliban, underscoring the severity of the human rights crisis in the country.
