The German magazine Der Spiegel has reported that the Taliban has released 28 Afghan citizens who were deported from Germany. According to the report, the individuals were freed after making relatively light commitments to the Taliban.
This marks the first time in three years that Germany has deported a group of Afghan refugees via chartered flight back to Afghanistan.
Der Spiegel noted that the 28 individuals, who had been convicted of serious crimes, including rape, were initially imprisoned upon their return to Afghanistan. However, they have now all been released.
Suhail Shaheen, head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, told Der Spiegel that the individuals were investigated and then released after their families provided written assurances that they would not commit further crimes.
The deportation of refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch has condemned Germany’s decision, accusing it of ignoring the critical situation in Afghanistan while proceeding with the deportations.
