Hawala in Germany: Dangerous monetary system or life -saving help?
Hawala in Germany: Dangerous monetary system or life -saving help?
Afghanistan - Hawala is a traditional money transfer system that is deeply rooted in the practices of many migrants and refugees. Despite its importance in humanitarian support, the use of Hawala from Germany is not officially permitted. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) explains that such financial transactions are not permitted in Germany. This regulation is intended to protect the integrity of the financial system and prevent criminal activities, reports mdr .
The functionality of Hawala is both simple and efficient: money is handed over to a local perspective partner, the so -called Hawaladar, who then informs a partner in the target region to hand over the money to the recipient. It is a system based on trust and does not require banks or formal institutions. The Arabic term "Hawala" means "transfer" and is designed for this trusting transaction, as Deutschlandfunk emphasizes.
Hawala for humanitarian aid
Despite the official rejection, Welthungerhilfe uses Hawala in special cases, especially in crisis areas such as Afghanistan and Syria, where alternative bank transfers are not possible. This decision is made under strict requirements, which should ensure traceability and transparency of the transactions. Around 2 million people have been supported by such means in the past. These exceptional permits must always be weighed up: Hawala transactions can only take place if alternatively there are no safe options for money transfers and it is necessary to save human lives, according to the BMZ.However, the system's abuse options are a big problem. Experts warn of the use of Hawala for illegal purposes such as money laundering and terrorist financing. Investigations by LKA and other authorities have shown that Hawala is also used by criminals to illegally transfer money. In 2021, for example, seven men were convicted who had transferred over 200 million euros, such as Tagesschau reported
monitoring and legal challenges
The use of Hawala in Germany is under strict observation. The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has to struggle regularly with procedures against Hawaladare. This supervision is necessary to identify potential illegal money flows. However, there is a area of tension between legal use for assistance and criminal applications. The professor of capital market law, Matthias Casper, sees little chance of legalizing the system as long as it is not operated.
The advantages of Hawala, such as speed, low costs, and access without a bank account, are of great importance for many migrants and their families. Nevertheless, the system remains shaped by a fundamental distrust. Even if Hawala is an important support for many people, it is recognized as a potential security risk in terms of human trafficking and illegal financing.
In summary, it can be said that Hawala represents a complex construct that serves both as an important tool for legal money transfers and is perceived as a potential tool for criminal activities. The need for a differentiated consideration of both the legal framework and the humanitarian aspects is obvious.| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Afghanistan |
| Quellen | |
Kommentare (0)