The German government officially announced that it has expelled 28 Afghan refugees with criminal records from the country. According to the German magazine Spiegel, these individuals departed on Friday via Qatar Airways from Leipzig to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. This marks the first time since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 that Berlin has proceeded with the expulsion of a number of refugees. The expulsion of several Afghan refugees, which was carried out on Friday, September 9, occurred just three days after a knife attack in the city of Solingen in western Germany, where the Chancellor promised during a visit to the attack site that his government would expel more refugees. The deadly attack in Solingen intensified the verbal conflict among political figures and parties in Germany regarding asylum laws and the expulsion of refugees, increasing pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to control the influx of refugees. However, Spiegel reported that the expulsion of dozens of refugees on Friday was the result of two months of 'secret negotiations' between Germany and the Taliban government, mediated by Qatar. On Thursday of this week, Nancy Faeser, Germany's Interior Minister, announced that Berlin would 'soon' resume the expulsion of Syrian and Afghan refugees to their countries. In the coming days and weeks, state elections are set to take place in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg, and according to polls, the far-right and anti-immigrant party 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD) is leading in all three states. Analysts predict that significant dissatisfaction among the German public regarding immigrants will impact the success of this extremist party in the elections. The knife attack occurred during a music festival in Solingen on Wednesday evening, September 2, leaving three dead and eight injured, some of whom are in critical condition. Initially, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack without providing evidence, and about 24 hours later, police announced that a Syrian man, who is the 'main suspect,' had surrendered. Following this attack, Olaf Scholz told reporters, 'We must do everything we can to ensure that those who do not have the right to stay in Germany or cannot have it are returned and expelled.'
German Government Expels 28 Afghan Refugees with Criminal Records
Germany has expelled 28 Afghan refugees with criminal records, marking the first such action since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. This decision follows a deadly knife attack in Solingen, which has intensified political pressure on the German government regarding immigration policies. The expulsions are also linked to secret negotiations with the Taliban mediated by Qatar.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Germany expelled 28 Afghan refugees with criminal records, marking the first such action since the Taliban regained power in 2021. This decision followed a deadly knife attack in Solingen, increasing political pressure on the government regarding immigration policies.
- The expulsions were the result of secret negotiations between Germany and the Taliban, mediated by Qatar.
- The action comes amid rising support for the far-right AfD party ahead of upcoming state elections.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Germany has been a key destination for refugees, particularly from Afghanistan, following the Taliban's takeover. The country's immigration policies are under scrutiny amid rising political pressures.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%