First deportation flight to Afghanistan – Dobrindt under pressure!

First deportation flight to Afghanistan – Dobrindt under pressure!

On July 18, 2025 at 8:58 a.m., the first deportation flight to Afghanistan since August 2024 took off from Leipzig. There were 81 people on board the machine who are considered legally obliged to leave the country. Those affected had been prosecuted in Germany and now had to return to their home country, which is currently under the influence of the Taliban. The flight was originally scheduled for 7:15 a.m. but was delayed. Tagesschau reports.

This represents the second deportation of Afghan nationals since the Taliban came to power in August 2021. The flight landed in Leipzig in the early afternoon, while the origin and exact legal status of the deportees are still unclear. Critics, including the German Institute for Human Rights and PRO ASYL, see these deportations as a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the German Basic Law. The Republican Lawyers' Association has also raised concerns. It also remains unclear whether there were direct negotiations with the Taliban for this flight or whether an intermediary was involved ZDF reports.

Political context and planned tightening measures

The deportation flight took place at the same time as a migration summit to which Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had invited his European colleagues. Dobrindt, who has called for a tightening of migration policy in Europe, has already indicated that he intends to negotiate returns directly with the Taliban. This could represent a new approach in German asylum policy, as Germany currently does not have diplomatic relations with the regime and instead communicates through a liaison office in Qatar daily news and ZDF.

In recent months, the discussion about deportations to Afghanistan has flared up again, especially when it comes to criminals. According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, around 11,500 Afghan citizens are currently required to leave the country. Time reports. Sebastian Fiedler, domestic policy spokesman for the SPD, supports the planned measures, but emphasizes that direct relations with the Taliban should be avoided. These argumentative differences show how sensitive the issue is, especially with regard to the precarious security situation in Afghanistan and the humanitarian aspects.

International criticism and the human rights situation

The United Nations is also critical of the German deportation plans. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk has said that it is inappropriate to send people back to a country where the human rights situation is so catastrophic. The situation for women and girls has deteriorated dramatically since the Taliban returned to power. In the current debate about repatriations, the humanitarian perspectives and risks that deportation to Afghanistan entails are repeatedly pointed out The time.

In view of these developments, it is clear that the issue of deportations to Afghanistan has not only legal but also profound moral implications. Experts and human rights activists are calling for greater consideration to be given to security and humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan before further deportations are carried out.