Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) has urged the German government and political parties to avoid using the plight of Afghan refugees for political purposes.
The organization criticized the deportation of Afghan refugees by Germany, calling it a breach of the country’s international and regional obligations. It emphasized that criminal behavior is an individual matter and should not be used to stigmatize all refugees.
“We urge the German government and its democratic parties to refrain from politically exploiting the dire situation of refugees and not to use the issue of asylum as a tool for gaining power,” the statement by HRD+ reads.
Nasrullah Nabil, a legal analyst, told TOLOnews: “What happened in Germany is more of a political act than a legal one. As you know, elections are currently underway in Germany, and some states have seen victories for far-right, anti-immigration, and populist parties.”
Meanwhile, some Afghan refugees in Germany express concern that the German government’s new policy and the highlighting of accusations against Afghan refugees are contributing to the rise of xenophobia in the country.
Mohammad Khan Talebi Mohammadzai, an expert on migration issues, said: “We are witnessing a new wave of ‘Afghan Phobia’ emerging in Europe, and there is a possibility that other European countries may take similar actions. The United Nations, European countries, and international organizations should engage in dialogue to alleviate the concerns of migrants.”
Shakiba, another migration expert, said: “Although such deportations are against European Union laws, German politicians believe that, for the sake of their country’s security, such deportations could be justified under special circumstances.”
Last Friday, Germany deported 28 Afghan citizens who were accused of various crimes back to Afghanistan, an action that prompted Austria’s Foreign Ministry to also announce its intention to deport Afghan refugees with criminal records back to Afghanistan.