BERLIN: Hundreds of Afghans previously promised sanctuary in Germany have been told they are no longer welcome, in a stark U-turn by the conservative chancellor, Friedrich Merz . The 640 people in Pakistan awaiting resettlement – many of whom worked for the German military during the US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan – will no longer be taken in, as Merz’s government axes two programmes introduced by its centre-left-led predecessor.
Merz has taken a harder line on migration to fend off a stiff challenge from the far right. The people awaiting evacuation would receive notice from Germany in the coming days “that there is no longer any political interest in their being admitted”, an interior ministry spokesperson said.
Rights groups called the reversal a betrayal that defied several court rulings. They warned that the Afghans risked “persecution, abuse and death” if they were returned. Karl Kopp, the head of the German NGO Pro Asyl, criticised the government’s decision as “ice cold”. He added: “The previous government promised to take these people in for one reason only: they had fought for women’s rights, human rights and freedom in Afghanistan.”
The people affected were now in acute danger and at risk of falling into the hands of the Taliban regime, he said. “For the new government, this shameful treatment of people in mortal danger is a declaration of moral bankruptcy.”
After the Taliban’s return to power four years ago, Germany’s then centre-left-led government launched programmes offering refuge to “especially endangered people” including local staff who had worked for the German military or government ministries, as well as rights activists and journalists.
