Germany deported Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan on Friday, marking the first such action since the Taliban regained control in August 2021.
Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit stated that the 28 Afghan nationals deported were convicted criminals but did not specify the nature of their offenses. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that the deportation was driven by security concerns for Germany.
Germany, which does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Taliban, had to use alternative channels to carry out the deportations. This move is unlikely to lead to improved relations between Germany and the Taliban, especially after Afghanistan recently issued laws enforcing strict moral codes, including requiring women to cover their faces, bodies, and voices in public. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized these laws on social media.
Although Hebestreit mentioned that these deportations had been planned for months, they took place shortly after a deadly knife attack in Solingen, allegedly committed by a Syrian asylum seeker.
The suspect, who had previously evaded deportation, is now being held on suspicion of murder and membership in a terrorist organization, with possible charges pending. The Daesh militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, citing it as retaliation for actions against Muslims, though this claim has not been independently verified.
The deportations come amid debates on immigration ahead of regional elections in Saxony and Thuringia, where anti-immigration parties like the populist Alternative for Germany are expected to perform well.
In June, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced plans to resume deportations of criminals from Afghanistan and Syria following a knife attack by an Afghan immigrant that resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries to four others.
Interior Minister Faeser also announced plans to tighten knife laws and pledged, along with other government officials, to streamline the deportation process.
