Latest news with #Dobrindt
Observer
3 days ago
- Politics
- Observer
Germany presses ahead with deportations to Afghanistan
BERLIN: Germany said on Friday it had deported 81 Afghan men convicted of crimes to their homeland, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government looks to signal a hard line on immigration. Europe's top economy was forging ahead with a "policy change", said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who was also hosting several European counterparts for a migration meeting. "Deportations to Afghanistan must continue to be carried out safely in the future. There is no right of residence for serious criminals in our country", he said. The interior ministry said the plane took off on Friday morning bound for Afghanistan, adding that all the deportees were under expulsion orders and were convicted by the criminal justice system. Germany had stopped deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. But expulsions resumed last year, when the previous government of Social Democrat (SPD) chancellor Olaf Scholz expelled a group of 28 Afghan convicts. Berlin has had only indirect contact with the Taliban authorities through third parties, with Friday's operation executed with the help of Qatar, said the interior ministry. Following the announcement, the United Nations said no one should be sent back to Afghanistan, whatever their status. The UN human rights commissioner called for an "immediate halt to the forcible return of all Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers, particularly those at risk of persecution, arbitrary detention or torture upon their return", spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva. Amnesty International directly criticised the deportations, saying the situation in Afghanistan was "catastrophic" and that "extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and torture are commonplace". Merz defended the expulsions at a press conference, saying he was "grateful" to be able to deliver on a promise he had made when entering government. None of those deported "had a residence status anymore. All asylum applications were legally rejected without further legal recourse", he said. "This is why this deportation and this flight were possible". The deportations were among a number of "corrections" made to immigration policy by his government, including tightening border controls and limiting family reunification rights for some refugees. Merz however said policing Germany's borders was only a "temporary" fix and a durable solution was needed at the European level. To that end, Dobrindt was meeting his Austrian, Danish, Czech, French and Polish counterparts, as well as European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner, in southern Germany. The aim of the meeting was to "strengthen European migration policy", Dobrindt said. — AFP
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Germany and EU allies push for stricter asylum rules and deportations
BERLIN: Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and five European counterparts have agreed on measures to strengthen asylum rules, including deportations to Afghanistan and Syria as standard practice. The meeting at Germany's Zugspitze follows Berlin's May decision to reject asylum seekers at borders, a move that drew criticism. Dobrindt met with ministers from France, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner. The proposed policies, requiring EU approval, include removing legal barriers to transferring rejected asylum seekers to secure centres outside the bloc and processing claims in third countries. 'We share the conviction that Europe must act with determination and unity to reduce illegal migration effectively,' stated a joint document from the German interior ministry. The agreement also calls for visa restrictions on nations refusing deportation cooperation. The talks follow Germany's deportation of 81 Afghan men on Friday, part of the new government's stricter migration policies since taking office in May. - Reuters
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Germany Presses Ahead With Deportations To Afghanistan
Germany said Friday it had deported 81 Afghan men convicted of crimes to their Taliban-controlled homeland, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government looks to signal a hard line on immigration. Europe's top economy was forging ahead with a "policy change", said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who was also hosting several European counterparts for a migration meeting. "Deportations to Afghanistan must continue to be carried out safely in the future. There is no right of residence for serious criminals in our country," he said. The interior ministry said the plane took off Friday morning bound for Afghanistan, adding that all the deportees were under expulsion orders and were convicted by the criminal justice system. Germany had stopped deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. But expulsions resumed last year, when the previous government of Social Democrat (SPD) chancellor Olaf Scholz expelled a group of 28 Afghan convicts. Berlin has had only indirect contact with the Taliban authorities through third parties, with Friday's operation executed with the help of Qatar, said the interior ministry. Following the announcement, the United Nations said no one should be sent back to Afghanistan, whatever their status. The UN human rights commissioner called for an "immediate halt to the forcible return of all Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers, particularly those at risk of persecution, arbitrary detention or torture upon their return", spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva. Amnesty International directly criticised the deportations, saying the situation in Afghanistan was "catastrophic" and that "extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and torture are commonplace". Merz defended the expulsions at a press conference, saying he was "grateful" to be able to deliver on a promise he had made when entering government. None of those deported "had a residence status anymore. All asylum applications were legally rejected without further legal recourse," he said. "This is why this deportation and this flight were possible." The deportations were among a number of "corrections" made to immigration policy by his government, including tightening border controls and limiting family reunification rights for some refugees. Merz however said policing Germany's borders was only a "temporary" fix and a durable solution was needed at the European level. To that end, Dobrindt was meeting his Austrian, Danish, Czech, French and Polish counterparts, as well as European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner, in southern Germany. The aim of the meeting was to "strengthen European migration policy", Dobrindt told the Augsburger Allgemeine daily. Migration has become a central issue on the German political agenda in tandem with the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD scored a historic election result of over 20 percent in February -- its highest-ever score at the national level -- leaving the party nipping on the heels of Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc. The controversy over immigration has been fuelled by a series of deadly attacks where the suspects were asylum seekers -- including several from Afghanistan. Germany's new government, a coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD, has promised to expel more foreign criminals alongside a crackdown on irregular migration. As well as carrying out deportations to Afghanistan, Dobrindt has said he was in contact with authorities to enable deportations to Syria, which have been suspended since 2012. Longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December, and the country is now under the control of Islamist leaders, some of whom were once linked with the Al-Qaeda jihadist network.
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Germany presses ahead with deportations to Afghanistan - International
Germany said Friday it had deported 81 Afghan men convicted of crimes to their Taliban-controlled homeland, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government looks to signal a hard line on immigration. The interior ministry said a plane carrying the men took off Friday morning bound for Afghanistan, adding that all the deportees were under expulsion orders and were convicted by the criminal justice system. The government of Europe's top economy was forging ahead with a "policy change", said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who was hosting several European counterparts for a migration meeting. "Deportations to Afghanistan must continue to be carried out safely in the future. There is no right of residence for serious criminals in our country." Berlin has had only indirect contact with the Taliban authorities through third parties with Friday's operation executed with the help of Qatar, said the German interior ministry. Germany had stopped deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. But expulsions resumed last year for the first time since the Taliban came to power, when the previous government of Social Democrat chancellor Olaf Scholz expelled a group of 28 Afghans convicted of crimes. Rights concerns Human rights group Amnesty International strongly criticised the renewed deportations to Afghanistan saying the situation in the country was "catastrophic". "Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture are commonplace," the group said in a statement. At the beginning of the month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, accusing them of crimes against humanity over the persecution of women and girls. Merz told a press conference on Friday that Germany wants to be an "attractive country for immigration", to attract the best talent and fill gaping labour shortages, The previous government's policies had however left local administrations with too large a burden to carry, Merz said. His government had "initiated corrections" to put migration policy on the right course, he said, including tightening border controls and limiting family reunifications rights for some refugees. Merz said that policing Germany's borders with its neighbours was only a "temporary" solution and a durable solution was needed at the European level. Migration summit Dobrindt was meeting his French, Polish, Austrian, Danish and Czech counterparts, as well as European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner, in southern Germany on Friday. The objective of the meeting is to "strengthen European migration policy," Dobrindt told the Augsburger Allgemeine daily. A debate over resuming expulsions has flared as migration has risen up the political agenda in tandem with the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD scored a historic election result of over 20 percent in February -- its highest score at a national level -- leaving the party nipping on the heels of Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc. The controversy over immigration was fuelled by a series of deadly attacks last year where the suspects were asylum seekers -- including several from Afghanistan. Germany's new government, a coalition between the CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), has promised to expel more foreign criminals alongside a crackdown on irregular migration. As well as carrying out deportations to Afghanistan, Dobrindt has said he was in contact with authorities to enable deportations to Syria, which have been suspended since 2012. Longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. The country is now under the control of Islamist leaders, some of whom were once linked with the Al-Qaeda jihadist network. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Local Germany
3 days ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
Germany presses ahead with deportations to Afghanistan
The interior ministry said a plane carrying the men took off Friday morning bound for Afghanistan, adding that all the deportees were under expulsion orders and were convicted by the criminal justice system. The government of Europe's top economy was forging ahead with a "policy change", said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who was hosting several European counterparts for a migration meeting. "Deportations to Afghanistan must continue to be carried out safely in the future. There is no right of residence for serious criminals in our country." Berlin has had only indirect contact with the Taliban authorities through third parties with Friday's operation executed with the help of Qatar, said the German interior ministry. Germany had stopped deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Advertisement But expulsions resumed last year for the first time since the Taliban came to power, when the previous government of Social Democrat chancellor Olaf Scholz expelled a group of 28 Afghans convicted of crimes. Rights concerns Human rights group Amnesty International strongly criticised the renewed deportations to Afghanistan saying the situation in the country was "catastrophic". READ ALSO: Who is the new German minister in charge of immigration? "Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture are commonplace," the group said in a statement. At the beginning of the month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, accusing them of crimes against humanity over the persecution of women and girls. Merz told a press conference on Friday that Germany wants to be an "attractive country for immigration", to attract the best talent and fill gaping labour shortages, The previous government's policies had however left local administrations with too large a burden to carry, Merz said. His government had "initiated corrections" to put migration policy on the right course, he said, including tightening border controls and limiting family reunifications rights for some refugees. Merz said that policing Germany's borders with its neighbours was only a "temporary" solution and a durable solution was needed at the European level. Migration summit Dobrindt was meeting his French, Polish, Austrian, Danish and Czech counterparts, as well as European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner, in southern Germany on Friday. The objective of the meeting is to "strengthen European migration policy," Dobrindt told the Augsburger Allgemeine daily. Advertisement A debate over resuming expulsions has flared as migration has risen up the political agenda in tandem with the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD scored a historic election result of over 20 percent in February -- its highest score at a national level -- leaving the party nipping on the heels of Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc. The controversy over immigration was fuelled by a series of deady attacks last year where the suspects were asylum seekers -- including several from Afghanistan. 'Scarier things to come: How foreigners view Germany's immigration crackdown Germany's new government, a coalition between the CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), has promised to expel more foreign criminals alongside a crackdown on irregular migration. As well as carrying out deportations to Afghanistan, Dobrindt has said he was in contact with authorities to enable deportations to Syria, which have been suspended since 2012. Longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. The country is now under the control of Islamist leaders, some of whom were once linked with the Al-Qaeda jihadist network.
