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DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Germany urged to clarify refugee policy for Palestinians – DW – 07/24/2025
After having just lifted a controversial 18-month freeze on asylum rulings, Germany is being pressed to grant full refugee status to Palestinians as Israel's actions in Gaza claim ever more civilian casualties. Shafiq* is a Palestinian who ended up in limbo after he managed to get out of Gaza and make his way via Egypt and Turkey to Germany, where he applied for asylum. The right to asylum is enshrined in Germany's constitution and is granted to individuals who face persecution in their home country due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. But 65-year-old Shafiq arrived a few months after Germany's Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF) halted the processing of asylum applications in January 2024. "I didn't know. I wasn't sure why they weren't giving me papers. I sent a letter. Maybe six months ago, they answered that they had to wait to know what the situation was in Gaza," he said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Human rights groups, lawyers and some opposition politicians have rejected BAMF's reasons for freezing applications for people like Shafiq. BAMF cited Article 24 of the Asylum Law, which allows decisions to be postponed in "a temporary uncertain situation." At the time of the suspension, at least 24,000 Palestinians had already been killed in the military incursion launched by Israel, according to Gaza health officials. In a statement issued to DW in conjunction with the German Interior Ministry, BAMF said that decisions about applicants from the Gaza Strip had been "deprioritized" within the administration. The reasons cited by the spokesperson are: "the conflict triggered by the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas" (classified by Germany as a terrorist organization) and "the lack of information about the situation in the conflict zone and what persecution the civil population is facing." Legal cases were launched challenging the Federal Office of Migration and Refugees' inaction — most courts ruled in the thwarted applicants' favor. By April 2025, courts had ruled in favor of Palestinian plaintiffs some 187 times. In July 2025, the Federal Interior Ministry (BMI) disclosed in response to media inquiries that asylum claims processing had been resumed, as the situation in Gaza was no longer judged "uncertain." Refugee advocacy organization Pro Asyl told DW that the BAMF processing freeze should never have occurred in the first place. "The actual conditions in Gaza prove that people are very much in real danger of becoming a victim of Israel's military operations at any time simply by their sheer presence," said the organization's legal rights spokesperson, Peter von Auer. Berlin-based human rights lawyer Alexander Gorski described BAMF's freeze as "absurd," adding: "It is very politically difficult to say the situation is unclear — and very inhumane." The number of open asylum cases from people from across the Palestinian territories lodged with German authorities stood at around 1,100 in February 2024. The ongoing blockade of Gaza has made it practically impossible to leave and Palestinians who have fled often choose to join relatives settled in many other parts of the world. In 2024, a total of 634 asylum applications were lodged by Palestinians in Germany. This sank further to 185 in the first six months of 2025. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Advocacy group The Refugee Council of Lower Saxony is helping Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to fight for refugee status. Up to now, Palestinians have often been denied the full protection status afforded to other refugees under the Geneva Convention. This has been linked to their exceptional status. Palestinians are the only refugee group to have their own UN agency, UNRWA, which is regarded as responsible for their protection and assistance. Established in late 1949 to provide education, healthcare, food and other services, UNRWA — which operates in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem — was intended to be a temporary measure to help displaced Palestinians after their expulsion from what is now Israel. Germany grants "subsidiary protection" status to those who do not qualify for asylum or refugee protection but are at risk of serious harm if they return to their home country, such as the death penalty, torture, or arbitrary violence in an armed conflict. However, with the UN Palestinian refugee agency currently unable to operate in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli parliament passed a ban, German refugee rights groups and politicians are now questioning whether the granting of subsidiary protection status is legally sound. Article 1d within the Geneva Convention foresees the provision of full protection to Palestinians, too, if UNRWA's help has ceased for any reason. Lawyer and Refugee Council spokesperson Caroline Mohrs cited a European Court of Justice ruling from June 2024 in line with that clause. In Germany, refugee status has clear advantages. It is possible to receive permanent residency after three years — whereas it is five years at the earliest for people with subsidiary protection. And the chance of being allowed to benefit from programs to reunite with their families is higher as well. The new coalition of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) moved in June 2025 to suspend family reunification for those with subsidiary protection status for at least the next two years. Left Party parliamentarian Clara Bünger is also calling for Gazans who flee to Germany to receive refugee status upon arrival. "Many see subsidiary protection as temporary protection. But people need a long-term perspective. And one thing is clear: no one will be able to return to Gaza, to this strip of land," Bünger, who serves as her party's interior affairs spokesperson in parliament, told DW. A lawyer herself, she is now calling for the unprocessed asylum applications to be dealt with "quickly and fairly." Shafiq is still in the dark about how his asylum case will proceed. A social worker and father of four, he left his homeland in 2022 in search of a better life for himself and his family — and the hope of getting medical treatment for his sick daughter. After the Palestinian's departure from Gaza, his 26-year-old daughter died of cancer and his youngest son was killed in an Israeli rocket attack, he told DW. Two other adult children have made it to Europe — one to Germany, but authorities did not permit him to live in the same town as his son. His wife remains in Gaza, living in a tent. The family apartment was destroyed amid the military assault. The Palestinian does not know whether he will be allowed to stay in Germany, but on one thing he is clear: "There is no future, no safety, nothing in Gaza." * While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
German-Afghan relations under scrutiny over deportations – DW – 07/24/2025
The German government's policy of deporting Afghan criminials to Afghanistan relies on cooperation with the Taliban government in Kabul. The Islamists are hoping this is the first step toward diplomatic recognition. "We have succeeded in organizing another deportation flight with convicted criminals to Afghanistan," Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said in a press release on July 18, following the departure of a plane from Leipzig to Kabul with 81 Afghan men with failed asylum applications and criminal convictions on board. As Dobrindt sees it, this flight means that the governing coalition of the center-right bloc of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) has made good on its promise. "We will start deporting people to Afghanistan and Syria, beginning with criminals and dangerous individuals," they wrote in their coalition agreement. Deportation flights had already been conducted under the previous center-left government, which lost the general election on February 23, 2025. Nevertheless, Dobrindt (CSU) spoke of a "policy shift" — with reference to the "repatriation offensive." The plan is to put more pressure on countries to take back their citizens. In the case of Afghanistan, this is particularly tricky and sensitive because Germany has not officially recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Islamist Taliban returned to power in August 2021 following 20 years of struggle, after the US-led military mission ended in failure with the withdrawal of international troops. The humanitarian situation is dire and the radical Islamic fundamentalists have once again been systematically oppressing girls and women. An estimated 377,000 individuals of Afghan origin live in Germany. Many of them came as refugees. Many of them are permitted to stay although their individual asylum request has not been granted. In Germany, just under 11,500 Afghans are registered as required to leave the country, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in May this year. The BAMF was unable to say whether and how many criminals or dangerous individuals are among those required to leave the country. Deportations to Afghanistan were taking place even before the Taliban regained power. They were controversial at the time due to the precarious security situation and remain so today due to ongoing human rights violations. Interior Minister Dobrindt nevertheless intends to stick to his course: "Serious criminals have no right to reside in our country," he said and government spokesman Stefan Kornelius announced on Monday that more deportations are to follow: "This isn't resolved with one flight." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Germany is hoping to avoid the impression that it's boosting the Taliban's international standing. The German government speaks of "technical contacts." The recent deportations were facilitated by the Qatari government. As government spokesman Stefan Kornelius put it, Qatar's role is as a mediator: "We're in ongoing contact with the de facto government in Afghanistan to arrange technical aspects." He avoided using the word Taliban. An agreement had been reached for the current Afghan administration to send two representatives to Germany, who will be based in the embassy in Berlin. The new diplomats will be tasked with "supporting further planned repatriation flights." This is the first time that the regime, which is not recognized by Germany, sends its own personnel to Germany. Germany and Afghanistan are clearly entering a new phase. Nevertheless, following the latest deportation flight, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was adamant: "Diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime is not up for discussion. That is simply out of the question," Merz said at a press conference in Berlin. However, Conrad Schetter, an Afghanistan expert from the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies (BICC), believes that other countries may follow Russia's lead and officially recognize the Taliban government. Schetter pointed to Afghanistan's close ties with other countries, including Pakistan and Qatar: if these countries follow Russia's example, it could put considerable political pressure on Western countries, he told DW. "And this is likely to spark the kind of diplomatic momentum that the Taliban are hoping will be triggered by Russia's latest move," said Schetter. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Peace and conflict researcher Nicole Deitelhoff from the University of Frankfurt am Main has strongly criticized Germany's policy on Afghanistan. In the newspaper, she wrote that deportations are inadmissible if those affected are at risk of torture or inhumane treatment in their country of origin. What's more, she predicts that the policy shift will negatively impact on Germany's reputation. Deitelhoff points to the German government's decision to end its admission program for former Afghan workers who aided the Bundeswehr during its military engagement. "Who can still trust a country that promises its civilian aid workers that it will ensure their safety in the future and then abandons them just like that?" Deitelhoff you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Local Germany
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Germany to follow Austria and deport convicted Syrians
The ministry had instructed the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) to take action against "dangerous Syrian individuals and delinquents", a spokesman told AFP, confirming a report appearing in the Sunday edition of Welt newspaper. The spokesman stressed that committing serious crimes meant one was excluded from the protection afforded by asylum and could lead to the revocation of any such status already granted. An agreement reached by the coalition made up of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats provided for deportations to Afghanistan and Syria "starting with delinquents and people considered a threat," the spokesman added. To that end the ministry was in contact with the relevant Syrian authorities, he said. Between January and May, the BAMF has opened more than 3,500 procedures that could lead to the revocation of asylum rights granted to Syrian nationals, the ministry said in an answer to a question in parliament. Refugee status had been withdrawn in 57 cases and lower-level protection in 22 other cases, said the ministry. During the same period, around 800 Syrians have returned home as part of a voluntary repatriation programme funded by Germany, to which 2,000 have so far signed up. READ ALSO: How German media reveals its bias when foreigners commit crimes Around a million Syrians live in Germany, most of whom arrived during the major exodus between 2015 and 2016. Advertisement But since the December 2024 fall of president Bashar al-Assad, several European countries, including Austria and Germany, have suspended asylum procedures as far-right parties have campaigned on the issue. Austria's interior ministry on Thursday deported a Syrian criminal convict back to Syria, saying it was the first EU country to do so officially "in recent years". Germany has in recent months suffered several deadly attacks by jihadists using bladed weapons as well as far-right violence, which has pushed the issue of security up the political agenda.
Al-Ahram Weekly
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Germany to follow Austria and deport convicted Syrians - International
Germany is to start deporting Syrians with criminal records, the interior ministry said Saturday, days after Austria became the first EU country to do so in recent years. The ministry had instructed the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) to take action against "dangerous Syrian individuals and delinquents", a spokesman told AFP, confirming a report appearing in the Sunday edition of Welt newspaper. The spokesman stressed that committing serious crimes meant one was excluded from the protection afforded by asylum and could lead to the revocation of any such status already granted. An agreement reached by the coalition made up of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats provided for deportations to Afghanistan and Syria "starting with delinquents and people considered a threat," the spokesman added. To that end the ministry was in contact with the relevant Syrian authorities, he said. Between January and May, the BAMF has opened more than 3,500 procedures that could lead to the revocation of asylum rights granted to Syrian nationals, the ministry said in an answer to a question in parliament. Refugee status had been withdrawn in 57 cases and lower-level protection in 22 other cases, said the ministry. During the same period, around 800 Syrians have returned home as part of a voluntary repatriation programme funded by Germany, to which 2,000 have so far signed up. Around a million Syrians live in Germany, most of whom arrived during the major exodus between 2015 and 2016. But since the December 2024 fall of president Bashar al-Assad, several European countries, including Austria and Germany, have suspended asylum procedures as far-right parties have campaigned on the issue. Austria's interior ministry on Thursday deported a Syrian criminal convict back to Syria, saying it was the first EU country to do so officially "in recent years". Germany has in recent months suffered several deadly attacks by jihadists using bladed weapons as well as far-right violence, which has pushed the issue of security up the political agenda. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
05-07-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Germany Sees 50% Drop in Asylum Applications
Israa Farhan Germany has recorded a sharp decline in asylum applications during the first six months of 2025, with figures showing a 50% drop compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The agency reported that 61,336 individuals submitted first-time asylum requests between January and June this year, marking a significant downturn in migration pressures on the country's asylum system. The sharp reduction is attributed to a combination of stricter migration control measures and evolving geopolitical dynamics. One key factor cited is the coordinated action taken by several Balkan states to curb irregular migration flows toward the European Union. These efforts, coupled with stepped-up stationary border checks introduced by Berlin along Germany's land borders, have contributed to the decline. Additionally, changing conditions in Syria since early December 2024 have influenced the migration trends, further reducing the number of people seeking protection in Germany. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
