What's happened
Germany has deported 28 Afghan nationals, marking the first such action since the Taliban regained power in 2021. This decision follows a deadly knife attack in Solingen, attributed to a Syrian asylum seeker. The German government emphasizes national security over individual protection claims, leading to stricter immigration policies.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the deported Afghan nationals were described as convicted criminals, with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasizing that 'the security interests of Germany clearly outweigh the claim for protection of criminals.' In contrast, Politico highlights that the deportations were facilitated through negotiations with Qatar, underscoring the complexities of Germany's diplomatic stance towards the Taliban. The South China Morning Post notes that the deportations occurred just a week after a knife attack in Solingen, which has reignited debates on immigration policy in Germany, particularly as anti-immigration parties gain traction ahead of elections.
How we got here
The deportations come amid rising concerns over immigration and security in Germany, particularly following violent incidents involving asylum seekers. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has faced pressure to tighten immigration laws and expedite deportations of convicted criminals.
More on these topics
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia.
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The Taliban or Taleban, who refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, are a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement and military organization in Afghanistan currently waging war within that country.
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Olaf Scholz is a German politician serving as Federal Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor under Chancellor Angela Merkel since 14 March 2018.
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Nancy Faeser is a German lawyer and politician of the Social Democratic Party who has served as a member of the State Parliament of Hesse since the 2003 elections. In 2019, she became the party's leader in Hesse, succeeding Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel.
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Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3,769,495 inhabitants make it the most populous city proper of the European Union. The city is one of Germany's 16 federal states.