On August 30, 2024, Germany executed its first deportation of Afghan nationals since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, sending 28 convicted criminals back to Afghanistan. The charter flight from Leipzig to Kabul was the result of two months of secret negotiations between Germany and the Taliban, facilitated by Qatar. Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit stated, ‘We send a signal to potential criminals or people planning crimes in the country’.This action comes amid rising political tensions in Germany, with upcoming state elections in Saxony and Thuringia where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is gaining significant support. Recent polls show the AfD leading in Thuringia with around 30% of the vote and close behind the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Saxony. The deportations and surrounding debate on immigration have become central issues in these elections.The German government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has defended the deportations as necessary for public safety, particularly following recent violent incidents such as a knife attack in Solingen. In response to these events, the government has introduced a ‘Sicherheitspaket’ (security package) that includes measures to tighten asylum and weapons laws.However, the deportations have sparked controversy and criticism. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have accused the German government of violating international law and using ‘tactics of electioneering’. Julia Duchrow, head of Amnesty International in Germany, stated, ‘If the German government, despite this, deports people to Afghanistan, it risks becoming complicit with the Taliban’.The situation has also intensified political debates within Germany. CDU leader Friedrich Merz has called for a temporary ban on Syrian and Afghan refugees, while Chancellor Scholz has announced talks with opposition parties on changes to migration policy. The outcome of the upcoming state elections and the ongoing immigration debate could have significant implications for Germany’s political landscape and immigration policies.
Key points
- Germany has deported 28 Afghan nationals, the first such action since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
- The deportation comes amid rising support for the far-right AfD party in upcoming state elections in Saxony and Thuringia.
- Human rights organizations have criticized the deportations as potentially violating international law.
- The German government defends the action as necessary for public safety, introducing new security measures.
Contradictions👾While the government claims the deportations are necessary for public safety, human rights organizations argue they violate international law and put deportees at risk.
👾The CDU aims to win the state elections, but polls show the AfD leading or close behind in key states.
