As reported by Deutsche Welle
The German government, for the first time since the onset of the conflict in Syria, has resumed deporting convicted criminals to that country, while at the same time a citizen was expelled to Afghanistan. The information is confirmed by Deutsche Welle and Reuters.
According to Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior, a man who was serving a sentence for robbery, inflicting bodily harm, and extortion in the northwestern part of the country was sent to Damascus. The same day brought the deportation to Afghanistan of another convict who, in Bavaria, had been convicted of intentional bodily harm. This is the second such expulsion in the last week.
“Deportations to Syria and Afghanistan must be possible. Our society has a legitimate interest in criminals leaving our country”
– said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt
Context of Migration Policy and Government Motives
Such a decision signals a substantial tightening of the migration policy stance in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet. The government has announced its readiness to take more decisive steps aimed at increasing citizens’ safety and upholding the rule of law within the country.
Reactions from Human Rights Advocates and Political Forces
In the current context, Germany is home to about one million Syrians, a legacy of the 2015 policy which is now facing criticism. Human rights advocates and opposition politicians warn that returning people to Syria and Afghanistan could place them at risk of deadly danger or torture. At the same time, the government emphasizes that the main priority remains citizens’ safety and upholding the country’s laws.
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