Germany deports 50 Afghan refugees
-
Protesters demonstrate against the deportation of 50 Afghan asylum seekers from Germany back to Afghanistan, at Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport, Germany, December 14, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)
Germany has deported 50 Afghan refugee men to their home country after rejecting their asylum requests.
According to Press TV, a German charter plane arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, from Frankfurt on Thursday, carrying out a first collective deportation based on an agreement Berlin and Kabul reached in early October.
Since the beginning of 2015, Germany has accepted nearly one million refugees from war-torn or impoverished countries, including tens of thousands of Afghan asylum seekers. According to official figures from the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), in 2016, Afghan refugees constituted the second largest group of asylum seekers after Syrians in the European country.
However, anti-refugee sentiments have been on the rise and there have been increasing demands pressed by opposition parties to curb the number of refugees.
The anti-refugee sentiments have also affected public support for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party, which has experienced defeats in state elections across the country. Many say Merkel’s welcoming approach toward refugees is to blame for the drop in support for the party, urging the chancellor to impose stricter controls on refugee arrivals.
The Afghan Ministry of Refugees has said that it would provide assistance to the returnees if they need help to get back to their respective provinces, adding that some 10,000 afghans had returned from Europe so far this year.
According to German media, the next mass deportation of Afghan refugees is due in early January.
ME
