Germany deports 23 Afghan men to Kabul

Germany deported 23 Afghan men to Kabul on a charter flight on August 25, with the Interior Ministry saying most of those aboard were offenders convicted of violent crimes.

The ministry said on X that the men were required to leave Germany and were “largely offenders convicted of serious crimes, including sexual offences and causing bodily injury.” An Interior Ministry spokesman told AFP that all 23 had come to the attention of Germany's criminal justice system.

The spokesman said Germany had sent back 228 Afghan men since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took power in May 2025.

Bild published video showing the men entering a plane at Leipzig airport before dawn, while several protesters in the terminal held a banner reading “Stop Deportations – Refugees Welcome.”

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Germany had a clear interest in ensuring that criminal offenders leave the country. He also said anyone without a right of residence in Germany should expect to leave.

Merz has stepped up border checks and deportations after pledging a tougher immigration policy. Berlin has prioritised deporting Afghan criminal offenders, but in July sent back a first Afghan citizen without a criminal record whose asylum application had been rejected.

Germany does not formally recognise the Taliban, which controls Kabul, but has negotiated with Kabul on deportations. Human rights groups have criticised deportations to Afghanistan.

Alliance Against Deportations said about 50 people protested against the flight at the airport and called the deportation “extremely dangerous” for those on board. Its spokesman Kai Adeel said Afghans seeking protection in Germany faced exclusion, torture or death under Taliban rule.