First deportation freight to Afghanistan: political turbulence in Leipzig!

First deportation freight to Afghanistan: political turbulence in Leipzig!

In a situation that raises many questions, the German government is planning the first deportation to Afghanistan since Taliban's takeover in August 2021. On the morning of July 18, 2025, an Airbus A330 of the Qatar Airways should start from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Afghan capital Kabul. Originally scheduled for 7:15 a.m., the flight has been delayed, as MDR. The machine, which was specially chartered for this deportation, landed in Leipzig the day before at 4:21 p.m.

The number of people on board this machine and its origin are so far unknown. There are also concerns about possible convicted offenders or so -called "endangers" under the deported. Research by the taz show that up to 50 Afghans were in deportation before the flight, which also focuses on the public.

human rights situation in Afghanistan

Deportations according to Afghanistan are not an easy topic and are not made by numerous organizations, including the German Institute for Human Rights, Pro Asyl and the Saxon Refugee Council, as incompatible with the

The legal framework is also complex. The residence law does not allow deportation if the deported in the home country threatens torture or inhumane treatment. The Interior Minister has already pointed out the need to check the legal conditions for deportations convicted of Afghanistan and Syria, especially after a knife attack in Mannheim, in which a police officer was killed. Political discussions about how deportations can be implemented legally and practically are picking up. At the upcoming Interior Ministers' Conference it is expected to be presented to check these questions.

The political landscape is further polarized by the ongoing debates on deportations. The Federal Government is criticized to use the measures as a "show policy" with regard to upcoming elections. In addition, significant cuts in social benefits for asylum seekers were also announced in the dublin procedure, which experts classified as unconstitutional. The Federal Constitutional Court Runs have classified as problematic.

It is clear that the next few days and weeks will be decisive for how these deportations are implemented in practice and which reactions follow both the political and the social side. The uncertainty about the number of deported and their legal status remains one of the main arguments in this debate.