Helpers and refugees: Calls for protection for Afghans are getting louder

Large parts of Afghanistan are again controlled by the Taliban. Vice Chancellor Scholz therefore promises quick help for the former employees of the Bundeswehr. Aid organizations are calling for a general ban on deportations.

After the conquest of important cities by the radical Islamic Taliban, human rights groups are calling for all deportations to Afghanistan to be stopped. In a joint appeal, 26 organizations, including Pro Asyl, Bread for the World, Caritas and Diakonie, demanded that the federal government respect the law and suspend deportations with the aim of Kabul. In the appeal it says:

Germany must not turn a blind eye to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and must stop all deportations. The rule of law means that human rights principles are observed.

The international law non-rejection requirement, which is derived from the absolute prohibition of torture and which forbids deportations in the event of the most serious human rights violations to be expected, is part of this, according to the explanation. “This deportation ban applies regardless of individual behavior.”

On Sunday the Taliban took the city of Kunduz in the north. After Saranj, Sar-e-Pul and Scheberghan, it was the fourth provincial capital of the country that fell into the hands of the insurgents. The Bundeswehr was also stationed in Kunduz.

Scholz promises faster help for local staff

Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has meanwhile promised to bring Afghan Bundeswehr helpers to Germany more quickly. “We are discussing whether there are ways to speed up the transport so that those affected can be flown out more quickly,” said the finance minister of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”.

Germany could not decide that alone, “it is a matter of close coordination with the Afghan government,” said Scholz. Intensive efforts were made.

So far 2,400 visas have been issued

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had already promised three weeks ago that she would find “pragmatic solutions” to bring Afghan local staff to Germany and, if necessary, to think about charter planes. But those who cannot make it to Germany on their own still have to persevere in the country.

According to its own statements, the federal government intends to approve all Afghan employees of the armed forces and police who have applied for a visa for Germany from 2013 onwards. This is to protect the aid workers from acts of revenge by the Taliban after the international troops have withdrawn.

So far, around 2,400 visas have been issued for local workers and their close relatives. According to the Ministry of Defense, 1675 people had arrived by August 6 – 333 former local employees with 1342 relatives.

Management report from May as a basis for decision-making

On the debate about stopping deportation, SPD Chancellor candidate Scholz said: “In general, it remains our wish to deport those who have committed serious crimes. Such perpetrators cannot expect to be able to stay with us.” The situation reports from the Federal Foreign Office indicate to which countries will not be deported.

These situation reports are used by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and other authorities and courts responsible for asylum issues in order to decide on deportations. However, the current report has come under fire because it mainly describes the situation in May, when NATO troops were still in Afghanistan and the Taliban had held back with their military offensive.