Berlin/Vienna. Germany repatriated Afghan citizens for the first time since the Taliban seized power three years ago on Friday morning. The decision was announced by government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. “These were Afghan citizens who had no right to remain in Germany and had been subject to deportation orders,” the German Press Agency reported. “All of the people in question were men.
The Saxon Interior Ministry announced that the plane took off from Leipzig/Halle Airport on Friday morning. The news magazine “Der Spiegel” had previously published a report on the incident. Dpa also confirmed “Der Spiegel’s information that a Qatar Airways charter plane took off from Leipzig to Kabul at 6.56am.”
The Boeing 787 was carrying 28 Afghan criminals who had been brought to Leipzig from various German states. The operation was organised by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The convicted criminals reportedly served most of their sentences in Germany before possible deportation.
Karner: “There is finally some movement on this issue
Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) is pleased with the direct deportations from Germany to Afghanistan. Nehammer told a press conference on Friday that Austria was coordinating well with its neighbouring country on the issue. Nehammer said that Afghans were already being deported and that “the next step would now be to send them directly to Afghanistan”. Nehammer said that the situation was “a bit complicated” due to the Taliban regime there and added: “That’s why we have to look for roundabout ways.”
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) said at a press conference in Mödling on Friday that this was “very good” but “not surprising news”. Karner had been calling for steps in this direction for more than two years. Now “there is finally some movement on this issue”.
Kickl criticises lack of app
FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, as expected, expressed similar views: “The sending of deportation planes to Afghanistan is a step that is long overdue in our country and is expected by the people.”
2024-08-30 16:34:42