In a significant policy shift, Germany has deported 28 Afghan nationals convicted of criminal offenses, marking the first such deportation since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. This action was executed through a Qatar Airways charter flight that departed from Leipzig at 6:56 am local time (04:56 GMT), heading to Kabul.

German government spokesman Stefan Hebestreit confirmed that all deportees were Afghan men who had been convicted of crimes, thereby losing their legal right to remain in Germany. The operation involved transferring these individuals from various locations across Germany to Leipzig for the flight.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser highlighted the importance of this move for national security, stating on X, “Our security counts, our constitutional state acts,” while acknowledging the cooperation between federal and state authorities.

The deportation was facilitated through secretive negotiations over two months, with Qatar serving as an intermediary between Germany and the Taliban, as reported by Der Spiegel. This diplomatic maneuver was necessary due to Germany’s severed ties with the Taliban government following the ouster of President Ashraf Ghani in 2021.

The timing of these deportations, just days after a deadly knife attack in Solingen by a Syrian asylum seeker, adds a layer of political significance. The attack, claimed by ISIS, has fueled debates over immigration and security, especially with regional elections looming in Saxony and Thuringia, where anti-immigration sentiments are strong.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during an SPD campaign event near Leipzig, reinforced the government’s stance, saying, “It is a clear signal: Those who commit crimes cannot count on us not deporting.” This statement echoes his earlier promise in June to deport criminals from Afghanistan and Syria following a violent incident in Mannheim.

However, this policy has not been without controversy. Amnesty International Germany criticized the move, arguing that deporting individuals to countries like Afghanistan, where human rights abuses are rampant, contravenes international law and puts deportees at risk of torture.

This deportation marks a pivotal moment in German policy towards Afghan migrants, reflecting a tougher stance on immigration and crime, amidst ongoing debates about security, human rights, and the rule of law.