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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UN urges 'immediate halt' to Afghan deportations
Listen to article The United Nations insisted no one should be sent back to Afghanistan, after Germany on Friday deported 81 Afghans convicted of crimes to their Taliban-controlled homeland. The UN rights office warned that surging numbers of Afghans being forced to return to their conflict- and crisis-torn country from elsewhere in the region especially but also further afield was creating "a multi-layered human-rights crisis". "UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk calls 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. She stressed that sending people, even those convicted of crimes, back to a country where they risk facing serious abuses "violates the core international law principle of non-refoulement". The comments came after Berlin said it had deported 81 Afghan men convicted of crimes in Germany, the second such operation. Germany, like most countries, stopped deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. But it resumed expulsions last year, when the previous government of Social Democrat chancellor Olaf Scholz expelled 28 Afghan convicts. Friday's deportations come as Afghanistan is already reeling from the returns of more than 1.9 million people since the beginning of the year from Iran and Pakistan. Iran has deported some 500,000 people in the past month alone, Shamdasani said. The UN warned last week that as many as three million could arrive by the end of the year. "People returning to Afghanistan, whether by compulsion or of their own volition, find a country facing an acute humanitarian and human-rights crisis," Shamdasani said.
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
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.
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
UK and Germany to Pledge to Defend Each Other in Reset of Ties
(Bloomberg) -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will sign a new Anglo-German treaty in London on Thursday that includes a commitment to assist each other in case of armed attack. Starmer and Merz's predecessor, Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, laid the groundwork for the pact at a meeting last August in Berlin, when the British premier called it 'part of a wider reset grounded in a new spirit of cooperation.' Conservative leader Merz has made clear his regret over the UK quitting the European Union and has vowed to join forces with Starmer to confront challenges like Donald Trump's trade onslaught and the war on Ukraine. His trip to London comes a week after French President Emmanuel Macron made the first state visit by a European leader to the UK since Brexit, helping to reinforce warmer Anglo-French relations. Here's what to look out for from Thursday's meeting, when Starmer and Merz are due to sign the new treaty during a ceremony at London's Victoria and Albert Museum: The mutual defense pledge is a reaction both to an increasingly aggressive Russia and growing concern among European allies about US commitment to NATO under President Trump, according to a senior German official. At the same time, it's not meant to be a substitute for the principle of collective defense at the heart of NATO's founding treaty, known as Article 5, added the official, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations. For Germany, the defense element is particularly significant because the UK is, together with France, one of Europe's two nuclear powers. Germany doesn't possess its own nuclear warheads, but benefits from the protective 'umbrella' the US has spread over the continent. Atomic weapons are not explicitly mentioned in the new treaty, according to the German official. Starmer and Merz will also make a commitment to deliver a new long-range missile system — the Deep Precision Strike capability — in the next decade, according to a statement from Starmer's office. It will have a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) and help boost the UK and European defense sectors via 'significant industrial investment.' The treaty also contains measures relating to trade, transport and irregular migration, part of an effort to minimize the negative effects of Brexit. Alongside the pact, Germany is expected to commit to making it illegal to facilitate irregular migration to the UK, with the law change to be adopted by the end of the year, Starmer's office said. Following the recent deal between Britain and the US, Merz and Starmer will also discuss the ongoing trade talks between Brussels and Washington, according to the German official. Merz has called for a swift EU-US trade accord and cited Trump's deal with Starmer as a potential model. Thursday's events will be a welcome distraction from domestic difficulties for both leaders. Starmer, for his part, has been forced into a spate of policy U-turns in recent weeks that have compromised his government's hard-earned reputation for fiscal discipline. 'The international stage is clearly where he is happiest at the moment,' said Gemma Loomes, a lecturer in comparative politics at Keele University. 'The treaty symbolizes his commitment to rebuilding European relations post-Brexit but also allows him to temporarily put his domestic troubles to one side.' Merz, meanwhile, is dealing with an increasingly fractious ruling coalition, with his conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats at odds over issues ranging from welfare reforms to judicial appointments and already drawing comparisons with the infighting that dogged Scholz's administration. Beyond the treaty, the UK and Germany will also unveil commercial investments worth more than £200 million ($268 million) that will create around 600 new jobs, according to Starmer's office. These include: More stories like this are available on
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Crown Square Development is a ‘priority investment' as Galway City Council approves €60m loan
Galway City Council members have approved seeking a historic €60 million loan to finance a variety of capital projects – including the new civic offices in Crown Square. At the July council plenary meeting, elected members discussed the allocation of this money into key investments throughout the city but some felt that it didn't meet the imminent needs of Galwegians. Investment of the €60 million will enable works cross-departmentally in all areas of the city, and will focus on priority projects laid out by the council for their five-year term including: Masterplans at Kingston, South Park and Renmore Woodquay Park redevelopment Pitches at Millers Lane New multi-use game area at Renmore Pitch drainage and skate park in Doughiska Redevelopment of the Galway City Museum with Fáilte Ireland Upgrades to cultural facilities Public lighting upgrades, following damage from Storm Éowyn Mayor of the City of Galway Cllr Mike Cubbard said that the loan 'represents the belief and positivity' of Galway. He added: 'This is a young, vibrant, educated, artistic, Gaeltacht city, with a long tradition as an outward-looking trading port, over more than 800 years of history. This decision is an investment in our future - starting the enabling works for ground-breaking projects including the sports masterplans.' Exact cost breakdown for each project is unavailable as the council remains in the procurement process for the fit-out of the Crown Square development. It 'remains a priority investment.' Finance Director Helen Kilroy said. This loan comes shortly after the Irish Independent attended a special meeting and site visit to Crown Square where chief executive of Galway City Council Leonard Cleary said any other options but moving council offices into the new development would be 'fiscal folly'. To date, Crown Square has cost the council more than €1.5 million. The building itself has depreciated €8m since it was acquired in 2022 but is estimated to increase in value in it's 40-year life cycle. Part of the loan agreed upon will be designated to completing the fit out of the building. Most elected members said the funding would keep priority projects moving with minimal delays and expand the budget for community investment. However, some councillors expressed concern that the loan, and the focus on the Crown Square development, does not address the city's most pressing needs. Cllr Eibhlín Seoigthe said that though the projects listed are important to the city it does not 'address the biggest and most pressing need: housing.' 'I can't vote for this loan because I don't believe it reflects the people we serve.' To explain, she added: 'The project list kept changing. The costs were kept deliberately vague. And not all councillors were properly briefed. That's not democratic. That's not transparent. And it's certainly not inclusive.' Cllr Seoigthe's Social Democrat counterpart, Alan Curran, asked for a deferment due to a lack of adequate time to consider the magnitude of this proposal, as it is one of the largest loans the council has taken. The repayment term for the loan is projected to be 30 years with an annual repayment of €3.1m. Repayments will be calculated based on the amounts drawn down over the term. Now, Galway City Council will seek formal sanction from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and discuss the terms of the loan and drawdown. The formal application will be processed when the 2026 budget planning commences for the city. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
