Protest in Berlin Against Taliban’s Role in Afghan Refugee Expulsions
On Friday, May 15, a group of civil and human rights activists held a protest in front of the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Berlin, demanding an immediate halt to the expulsion of Afghan refugees. They also called on the German government to cut all cooperation and interaction with the Taliban administration.
The protesters chanted slogans such as “No cooperation with the Taliban,” emphasizing that Afghanistan under Taliban rule is not a safe country for refugees to return to. According to them, continuing the expulsions could seriously endanger the lives and security of Afghan citizens, particularly civil and human rights activists. They insisted that human rights should not be sacrificed for migration policies.
This demonstration followed a report by Germany’s ZDF television, which revealed that representatives of the Taliban had apparently been present at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Bonn. These representatives were involved in the identification process for individuals to be deported to Afghanistan and in the preparation of travel documents.
According to the report, during some deportations to Afghanistan, the regular presence of a Taliban representative at the office has been documented. This has raised concerns among refugees and human rights organizations about legitimizing the Taliban administration and the potential implications for the safety of deportees.
In response, the German Interior Ministry stated that conducting interviews within the migration office does not equate to establishing an official representation for the Taliban within the agency. The ministry added that the part of the building used for these interviews is separated from public areas and deemed appropriate for such procedures.
