Deportation shock: Yazidi family from Lychen despite court ruling in Iraq

Deportation shock: Yazidi family from Lychen despite court ruling in Iraq

Yesterday, July 22, 2025, an incident occurred that caused great excitement. A Yazidi family from Lychen in the Uckermark was deported to Iraq, even though they received a legal ruling from the Potsdam Administrative Court on the same day, while they were already on the plane to their homeland. How rbb24 reported, the family had lived in Germany since 2022 and had four underage children aged 5, 12, 15 and 17 who went to school in the Uckermark.

The legal dispute over the asylum decision brought good things for the affected family too late. On Tuesday morning, a passenger plane took off from Leipzig Airport and flew back to Iraq with 43 people. Beate Meißner, Thuringia's Justice Minister (CDU), emphasized that people without residency rights must leave the country and that the deportation flight went off without incident.

Growing number of deportations

The case of the Yazidi family is not isolated. In spring 2023, the federal government described deportations of Yazidis to Iraq as “unreasonable”, but the reality is different. The daily news reports that deportations have increased in intensity since then. By the end of October 2023 alone, at least 164 people had been deported to Iraq - a significant increase compared to 77 in 2022, although the exact number of Yazidis deported is not recorded.

The background to this wave of deportations is tragic. The Yazidi minority was persecuted by IS in 2014, and an estimated 5,000 Yazidis were killed in northern Iraq and many women and children were kidnapped. Despite the atrocities, the German Bundestag recognized the genocide against the Yazidis in January 2023. Nevertheless, many Yazidis now face the threat of deportation as they seek a new start in Germany.

Social and legal challenges

Legal support for affected Yazidis is often inadequate. Alia Hassan is another example; She received a deportation notice, while her sisters are allowed to stay here for the time being. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) believes that there is no threat of danger in Iraq, but is based on outdated assessments of the situation. Reality shows that religious minorities in Iraq continue to suffer from discrimination and protection by the Iraqi state is not guaranteed.

Professor Jan Kizilhan confirms that for many Yazidis returning to their home region can be life-threatening. Max Lucks, member of the Bundestag for the Green Party, expressed sharp criticism of the current deportation practice: It is a broken promise by the federal government and a moral failure, as there should be unity and security among the 5,000 to 10,000 Yazidis who may be threatened with deportation.

Amid all these challenges, there remains hope that affected families can find a voice and assert their rights. The situation in Iraq remains tense, and the coming months will show how the policy for the repatriation of Yazidis develops and whether the many appeals will finally be heeded.