The German government has defended its decision to deport an Afghan national who had not been convicted of any crime, saying such removals remain legally permissible under its immigration policy.
The deportation took place on Tuesday as Germany sent 31 Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan on the latest repatriation flight under the conservative government’s stricter migration measures introduced by Chancellor Friedrich Merz after taking office last year.
While the government has maintained that its priority is to deport individuals convicted of serious crimes, this was the first flight to include a deportee who was not a convicted criminal, prompting criticism from refugee rights groups.
Responding to the backlash, a spokesperson for Germany’s Interior Ministry said the government’s objective was to “begin with deporting people who have been convicted and those who pose a threat,” but added that it was also possible “to put people on deportation flights who are not criminals”.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said most of those deported on the latest flight were “serious offenders who had committed crimes such as murder, rape and acts of violence.”
However, he acknowledged that “the designation of ‘convicted offender’ does not apply” to one individual included on the flight.
The deportation reflects Germany’s tougher immigration stance as the government continues efforts to increase returns of Afghan nationals despite ongoing concerns from humanitarian and refugee organizations over conditions in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
