German far-right lawmaker calls for faster deportation of Afghan asylum seekers
Beatrix von Storch, a prominent figure in Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has called for tougher and faster deportations of Afghan asylum seekers without residence documents and Afghan nationals accused of crimes from Germany, remarks made as deportations continue and Berlin increases contacts with the Taliban administration.
In a post on the social media platform X on Saturday, 21 September, she said that if the German government had been able to bring Afghan local forces to the country on military aircraft, it should also be able to remove asylum seekers without residence permits and criminals from Germany.
Von Storch also wrote: “This is a practical necessity. Otherwise, if it is quicker or cheaper, this can be done with the help of the navy and by sea.” She also criticised Germany’s migration policy.
The Alternative for Germany party is one of the main critics of the country’s migration and asylum policies and insists on reducing immigration, tightening border controls and accelerating the deportation of asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected or who are staying in Germany without permission.
The comments came as Germany has continued its deportation of Afghan asylum seekers. The country previously deported 31 Afghan asylum seekers to Kabul on a charter flight from Leipzig Airport.
At the same time, Berlin has increased its contacts and engagement with the Taliban administration to speed up the deportation process for Afghans, an approach that has raised concerns among some Afghans living in Germany.
A number of Afghan activists have also recently discussed deportations, the threats posed by the Taliban administration and Berlin’s ties with the administration with several members of the German parliament.
The Alternative for Germany party has in recent years been one of the most controversial forces in German politics because of its hardline stance on migration and asylum.
