Germany Faces Criticism Over Afghan Deportations Amid Refugee Visa Delays
BERLIN (AFP) – Rights activists in Germany filed criminal cases on Friday against two government ministers following the deportation of Afghans awaiting visas under a German refugee scheme from Pakistan. Pro Asyl reported that Pakistan arrested hundreds of Afghans this week, subsequently deporting 34, which has placed them at risk of “arbitrary imprisonment, mistreatment or even execution” in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, reports 24brussels.
The charges against Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt center on allegations of “abandonment and failure to render assistance” to these Afghan refugees, who are caught in a growing crackdown by Pakistani authorities.
This situation stems from a governmental initiative established under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz after the Taliban’s rise to power four years ago. The program aimed to resettle Afghans who had worked with German institutions or faced particular threats from the Taliban, such as journalists and human rights advocates.
However, following the election of conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz in May, the admissions program has been suspended as part of his immigration crackdown, leaving approximately 2,000 Afghans stranded in Pakistan waiting for their visas.
The Kabul Airbridge initiative, dedicated to assisting stranded Afghans, reported that an additional 270 individuals accepted under the German scheme faced deportation on Friday.
On the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, Wadephul expressed “deep concern” for those at risk of deportation, stating that Germany was “in touch with the Pakistani government at the highest level to ensure these people are protected.”
Despite this assurance, the German government has yet to reactivate the admissions program, even after a recent court ruling mandated a “legally binding commitment” to issue visas to those already accepted into the initiative.
Immigration remains a contentious issue in Germany, particularly influenced by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The rise in violent incidents involving foreign nationals, including Afghans, prior to February’s elections prompted Merz to pledge the termination of the admissions scheme and an increase in deportations of convicted criminals to Afghanistan.
Since 2023, Pakistan has aggressively pursued deportations, initiating a campaign that intensified in April when it revoked residence permits for hundreds of thousands of Afghans, threatening arrest for those who did not leave. Overall, over one million Afghans have fled Pakistan since 2023, with more than 200,000 departing since April alone.
