Afghan asylum seekers in Germany staged a protest on Saturday outside the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, condemning the German government’s acceptance of Taliban diplomats and the forced deportation of Afghan nationals.
One protester held a placard stating that the deportation of asylum seekers amounts to “murder.” Demonstrators described the German government’s engagement with the Taliban as a “betrayal,” and called the group a “terrorist organisation.” They urged Berlin to end all cooperation with the Taliban.
The protest followed Germany’s recent decision to deport 81 Afghan asylum seekers on a charter flight, citing criminal convictions. In connection with this move, Germany allowed two Taliban-appointed consular officials to enter the country to facilitate future deportations of Afghan nationals with criminal records.
In response to a query from Afghanistan International on Thursday, the German Foreign Ministry confirmed the arrival of the Taliban diplomats, stating they would begin their duties after completing administrative procedures. The ministry said the German government aims to ensure that Afghan citizens in Germany have access to appropriate consular services.
Germany’s decision has sparked criticism from human rights activists, who argue that the deportations place individuals at risk of torture and death under Taliban rule.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, called on Germany to immediately halt deportations. He emphasised that even in cases involving criminal convictions, international legal standards particularly the principle of non-refoulement must be upheld.
