Pressure Mounts in Germany for Regular Deportation Flights to Afghanistan and Syria
State Interior Ministers call for expedited arrangements for the deportation of convicted criminals amid rising concerns over security and political commitments.
In Germany, calls for increased deportation flights for convicted criminals to Afghanistan and Syria are intensifying among state officials.
Recently, the last deportation flight to Afghanistan was conducted ten months ago, prompting state Interior Minister Daniela Behrens to amplify her demands.
Behrens, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, stated that there is a united expectation from the states for the federal government to facilitate additional flights without delay.
'The expectation among the states, beyond all party politics, is for the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior to enable further flights promptly,' Behrens remarked in a recent statement.
The interior ministers from across the federal states are reportedly in agreement that 'further and, in the long run, regular deportation flights' for serious offenders to Afghanistan should occur as soon as possible, a sentiment echoed for the repatriation of deportees to Syria.
Earlier, Bavaria's Minister-President had suggested during the federal election campaign that there could be weekly flights to both countries, criticizing previous federal positions.
Behrens countered that such perceptions of stagnation under the former Federal Interior Minister were unfounded, as the current climate under the CSU's Alexander Dobrindt reflects ongoing challenges and immediate priorities.
In August of the previous year, the German government managed to arrange its first deportation flight to Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, which carried 28 convicted criminals who were deemed not to have the right to remain in Germany.
Among those deported were individuals convicted of serious crimes, including sexual offenses.
This flight faced scrutiny over its timing, coinciding with electoral campaigns in Eastern Germany.
Despite assurances from former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser that additional flights would be forthcoming, no further deportations to Afghanistan have been executed since.
Faeser had expressed in October of the previous year that the government was working on further flights, indicating they would occur 'soon.'
The pressure from the conservative parties, particularly the CDU and CSU, regarding deportations to Afghanistan has been consistent, with calls for coordination with the Taliban regime to arrange flights.
Sachsen’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster claimed the federal government had encouraged states to prepare candidates for deportations since January, and Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder had stressed the urgency for negotiations with the Taliban following a violent incident in Munich attributed to an Afghan national.
The current coalition agreement of the CDU, CSU, and SPD outlines a commitment to deportations to Afghanistan and Syria, starting with criminals and potential threats.
Thorsten Frei of the CDU pledged to increase deportations significantly under the new government.
However, deportations to both Afghanistan and Syria are complex, necessitating cooperation with the respective regimes.
The Taliban governs Afghanistan, while Syria is currently under a transitional government with Islamist origins, characterized as relatively moderate.
Faeser emphasized during her visit to Syria in April the need for the return of criminals 'as soon as the situation in Syria allows for it.'
Recently, the last deportation flight to Afghanistan was conducted ten months ago, prompting state Interior Minister Daniela Behrens to amplify her demands.
Behrens, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, stated that there is a united expectation from the states for the federal government to facilitate additional flights without delay.
'The expectation among the states, beyond all party politics, is for the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior to enable further flights promptly,' Behrens remarked in a recent statement.
The interior ministers from across the federal states are reportedly in agreement that 'further and, in the long run, regular deportation flights' for serious offenders to Afghanistan should occur as soon as possible, a sentiment echoed for the repatriation of deportees to Syria.
Earlier, Bavaria's Minister-President had suggested during the federal election campaign that there could be weekly flights to both countries, criticizing previous federal positions.
Behrens countered that such perceptions of stagnation under the former Federal Interior Minister were unfounded, as the current climate under the CSU's Alexander Dobrindt reflects ongoing challenges and immediate priorities.
In August of the previous year, the German government managed to arrange its first deportation flight to Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, which carried 28 convicted criminals who were deemed not to have the right to remain in Germany.
Among those deported were individuals convicted of serious crimes, including sexual offenses.
This flight faced scrutiny over its timing, coinciding with electoral campaigns in Eastern Germany.
Despite assurances from former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser that additional flights would be forthcoming, no further deportations to Afghanistan have been executed since.
Faeser had expressed in October of the previous year that the government was working on further flights, indicating they would occur 'soon.'
The pressure from the conservative parties, particularly the CDU and CSU, regarding deportations to Afghanistan has been consistent, with calls for coordination with the Taliban regime to arrange flights.
Sachsen’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster claimed the federal government had encouraged states to prepare candidates for deportations since January, and Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder had stressed the urgency for negotiations with the Taliban following a violent incident in Munich attributed to an Afghan national.
The current coalition agreement of the CDU, CSU, and SPD outlines a commitment to deportations to Afghanistan and Syria, starting with criminals and potential threats.
Thorsten Frei of the CDU pledged to increase deportations significantly under the new government.
However, deportations to both Afghanistan and Syria are complex, necessitating cooperation with the respective regimes.
The Taliban governs Afghanistan, while Syria is currently under a transitional government with Islamist origins, characterized as relatively moderate.
Faeser emphasized during her visit to Syria in April the need for the return of criminals 'as soon as the situation in Syria allows for it.'
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Translated by AI
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