The official in charge of overseeing internal affairs. - Church asylum fails to stop family deportation, details shared by Behrens.
A Russian family was deported from a church asylum in the Uelzen district after seeking refuge there. The incident sparked criticism, with Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) coming to the defense of the authorities. She plans to discuss "hard cases" in church asylums in Hannover on Tuesday (12:30 pm).
The pastor of the affected parish in Bienenbüttel, Tobias Heyden, expressed concern following the May 12th incident. A four-person family had been staying there, and police then transferred them to Cologne/Bonn Airport, where they flew to Barcelona. At the time, it was reported that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had reviewed each family member's personal circumstances and found no "hard cases." Spain had approved the so-called return of the family.
The family was visiting relatives in Germany on a Spanish visa when conscription orders for the father and son arrived in their Russian home. Since the men didn't want to participate in the Russian attack on Ukraine, they applied for asylum in Germany. The mother was claimed to be gravely ill due to psychological stress and was being medically treated. However, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had rejected the family's asylum application.
The deanery and church social work of the Uelzen church district meticulously examined the case and believed the church asylum was beneficial. They argued the mother's health condition, the promising prospects for the family's integration, job offers for the father and son, and the daughter's successful integration into the gymnasium's school system were compelling reasons. The church asylum was correctly reported to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
The Interior Ministry disclosed that the number of individuals in Niedersachsen seeking church asylum has risen from 15 cases in 2022 to 80 cases in the previous year. Typically, a case consists of multiple people, it was mentioned.
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The Russian family's deportation from the church asylum in Germany's Lower Saxony region has drawn widespread attention. This incident occurred in the Uelzen district, specifically at a church in Bienenbüttel. After the family's relocation from the church to Cologne/Bonn Airport and subsequent departure to Spain, the case sparked discussions about "hard cases" in church asylums.
In response, Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) has scheduled a meeting in Hanover on Tuesday to discuss these complex situations. Critics argue that church asylums may not always provide a solution for refugees facing deportation. However, some, like Tobias Heyden, the pastor of the affected parish in Bienenbüttel, believe in the potential benefits of church asylums.
According to Behrens, the number of individuals seeking church asylum in Germany, specifically in Lower Saxony, has significantly increased over the past year. From 15 cases in 2022, it has risen to 80 cases in the previous year, often involving multiple people. This increase has brought forth concerns about the effectiveness and appropriateness of church asylums in addressing the issue of deportation.
Furthermore, the case of the Russian family highlights the challenging circumstances faced by refugees seeking asylum in Germany. The family, staying in Germany on a Spanish visa, applied for asylum due to conscription orders in their homeland and gravely ill health concerns for the mother. Despite the church district's belief in the benefits of granting church asylum, their application was ultimately denied by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf).
This development serves as a stark reminder of the challenges refugees face in seeking asylum in Germany and the need for thoughtful discussions and solutions regarding policies concerning deportation, church asylums, and social affairs.
Source: www.stern.de
