Germany deports Afghan without criminal record for first time since Taliban return

Germany has deported an Afghan national who has no criminal record, marking the first such removal after the Taliban regained power in 2021. The man’s asylum claim was rejected after he exhausted all procedural avenues, and he had been staying illegally in another European country before being returned to Germany and subsequently sent to Afghanistan. On the same day, 31 Afghans were deported by air, 30 of whom had criminal convictions. Since the resumption of deportations to Afghanistan in 2024, Germany has expelled more than 200 individuals. Amnesty International has reported that at least one deportee has died following removal, raising concerns over human‑rights protections.

The deportation policy continues to spark debate in Germany over the treatment of asylum seekers and the risks faced by those sent back to Taliban‑controlled Afghanistan.