Increased Court Rulings Compel German Government to Issue Visas to At-Risk Afghans
BERLIN – Courts have been delivering a growing number of rulings, compelling the German government to issue previously promised visas to Afghans facing risks under the Taliban regime, reports 24brussels.
In May, the conservative-led German government ceased issuing visas under a specific humanitarian refugee program as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
This program was initiated after the Taliban’s takeover of the Western-backed government in 2021, providing asylum to vulnerable individuals, including those who supported Germany’s military as local personnel.
An Afghan family successfully sued in July to compel the government to process their promised visas. This legal victory has prompted a surge in similar actions from other affected individuals seeking justice.
As of Wednesday, the Berlin administrative court has mandated the government to grant visas in 22 distinct cases, according to a report by Legal Tribune Online, a German legal publication.
Should the government fail to comply, it risks incurring fines of €10,000 per case, with courts already hinting at penalties in at least two instances.
The program previously facilitated the relocation of approximately 45,000 Afghans to Germany but faced growing scrutiny earlier this year.
Concerns were raised regarding potential security risks, with allegations that some arrivals had not been sufficiently vetted, a claim the government denied.
Charges Against Government Officials
Last Friday, migrant rights advocates filed charges against Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
They accused the officials of “abandonment and failure to render assistance” as a number of previously accepted Afghan refugees remain stranded in Pakistan while their requests are processed, coinciding with Germany’s embassy closure in Kabul.
Moreover, Islamabad is intensifying pressure to expel these individuals. Recent reports indicate that 450 people accepted under the admissions program were arrested by Pakistani authorities, with 211 subsequently deported back to Afghanistan.
Interior Minister Dobrindt stated that the government is currently reviewing all individual cases to ascertain whether there is a legal obligation to issue the visas.
The Afghan admissions program was one of several voluntary humanitarian initiatives designed to provide a limited number of visas, enabling safe passage for individuals facing dire threats.
However, in late July, all such programs were suspended, following earlier commitments to eventually terminate them entirely.
(vib)
