No deportations to Syria from Germany since blanket ban expired

Tue, Jun 15, 2021
By editor
2 MIN READ

Foreign

SIX months after Germany’s blanket ban on deportations to Syria expired, Berlin is yet to sent anyone back to the country.

“So far, no deportations to Syria had been carried out,’’ a spokeswoman for Germany’s federal Interior Ministry told dpa on Tuesday.

The general ban on deportations imposed in 2012 expired with the New Year.

It means German authorities can once again consider deportation in individual cases.

This is particularly likely in the case of serious criminals and those considered dangerous, for example people authorities believe capable to committing serious political crimes including terrorist attacks.

However, it is ultimately Germany’s 16 states that were responsible.

Deportations to Syria were always considered difficult, in part because Germany does not maintain diplomatic relations with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The German embassy in Damascus has been closed since 2012 and relations with Syria have been reduced to the minimum, which limits the options of the German Foreign Office, the Foreign Office said.

Rights organisations and churches were among those who have warned against deportations to Syria.

“People must not be brought into the danger of the most serious human rights violations with their eyes open,’’ said Dominicus Meier, acting chairman of the Migration Commission of the German Bishops’ Conference, and Peter Neher, president of the German Caritas Association.

“The return of refugees to their country of origin must always take place in safety and dignity.

This is currently not guaranteed at all, especially in Afghanistan and Syria, No one should be sent back to these countries.’’(dpa/NAN)

– June 15, 2021 @ 10:34 GMT |

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