German authorities deport Sri Lankan family members

A Sri Lankan Tamil-Muslim family living in Germany has been separated following a deportation action by immigration authorities. Mohamed Rouf and his 19-year-old daughter, Ramla, were deported to Sri Lanka on October 16 after authorities reportedly broke into their home in the early morning.

Their mother and three younger children, aged seven and nine, were detained in Düsseldorf. However, 15-year-old Ruhaim Rouf avoided deportation because he was away on a school trip in Berlin at the time of the raid. Upon his return, he was met at Duisburg central station by representatives of the Evangelical Church, who have granted him 'Kirchenasyl' (church asylum) to prevent immediate deportation and allow for a humanitarian review.

The family had lived in the Leverkusen area for eight years and was considered well-integrated, despite their asylum application being rejected. The church asylum provides temporary protection to prevent forced removals in hardship cases, though the practice faces increasing political and legal pressure under new European asylum regulations.