Thuringia Emphasizes Deportation of Criminal Afghan Refugees
The Minister of Migration for the German state of Thuringia has announced a firm policy to deport Afghan refugees with criminal backgrounds, stating that all legal means will be used to enforce this decision. Beate Meißner stressed that individuals who have committed crimes or are considered a threat to public security should be sent back to Afghanistan.
This member of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union described the deportation of “criminal refugees” as a “completely justified” measure in a video message. She said that despite differing assessments of the security situation in Afghanistan, the return of individuals deemed security threats is necessary.
Meißner emphasized that in her jurisdiction, the process of deportation will be pursued seriously not only for Afghan refugees but also for other refugees with criminal records.
These remarks come as Germany’s Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday, June 16, that 32 Afghan refugees with criminal records were deported on a special flight from Leipzig Airport to Kabul. According to German officials, these individuals had prior criminal convictions.
Since August 2024, Germany has initiated the deportation of Afghan refugees with criminal records and now arranges direct flights to Kabul. Previously, the transfers were mediated through Qatar, but following diplomatic changes, the process is now conducted directly.
The emphasis on continuing deportations comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between the Taliban administration and the European Union in Brussels to discuss the management of Afghan refugee returns. Meanwhile, human rights organizations continue to express concerns about human rights conditions and security in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, considering the forced return of individuals to the country a sensitive and contentious issue.
