Church asylum still in demand and often granted
In the year ending 2023, refugees sought protection from deportation at Christian churches in Hesse - and in some cases found it. According to its own information, the Protestant Church in Hesse-Nassau granted church asylum in 156 cases. Most of those affected came from Syria or Afghanistan, it said. The majority of these cases involved imminent deportations to a country that is party to the Dublin Agreement, such as Bulgaria and Croatia, where there are reports of severe mistreatment, imprisonment and humiliation, hunger and a lack of medical care.
According to their own information, the parishes and institutions of the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW) granted church asylum to 56 adults and 19 children this year. According to the church, the countries of origin of the people who have been granted church asylum are Syria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iran and Turkey. Requests are received daily from people to grant them church asylum. "Unfortunately, the majority of these requests have to be rejected," the EKKW announced. The congregations offer church asylum after careful consideration if there is a risk that the basic human rights of those in need of protection will be violated if they are deported.
According to the press office, the majority of people who requested church asylum in the diocese of Fulda this year came from Syria. Church asylum was granted in particular when there was a threat of deportation to a country of first entry where there were indications of "systemic deficiencies". "This is the case, for example, if the persons concerned had credibly reported violent attacks by security forces and inhumane accommodation conditions," it said. Exact figures were not given.
There were no cases of church asylum in the diocese of Mainz this year. The diocese explained that procedures had now been drawn up to ensure "good and reasonable communication" between state and church authorities. The Catholic Church accepts the legal requirements of the state in the handling of asylum law. "Church asylum cannot be used to undermine state asylum law or even jeopardize public safety and order," explained the diocese.
In the diocese of Limburg, church asylum was granted to people seeking protection in several cases this year. These were a married couple, a family and predominantly male individuals. They came from Syria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Turkey and Russia. The people were threatened with deportation to another Dublin country, which was associated with particular hardship in individual cases. Church asylum is only granted as a "last resort". The procedures agreed with the state are strictly adhered to.
Church asylum refers to the temporary reception of refugees in church premises who are threatened with danger to life and limb or violations of their human rights in the event of deportation. In the so-called Dublin procedure, it is decided which European state is responsible for the asylum application. In principle, it is the country to which the asylum seeker first entered.
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- Despite facing potential deportation to countries like Bulgaria and Croatia, where severe mistreatment and humiliation are reported, many refugees in Afghanistan seek protection at Christian churches in Hesse, with the Protestant Church in Hesse-Nassau granting church asylum in 156 cases during the year ending 2023.
- The Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW) also provided church asylum to individuals from Syria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iran, and Turkey, with 56 adults and 19 children receiving protection this year.
- In 2023, the majority of people requesting church asylum in the diocese of Fulda came from Syria, with church asylum granted when there was a threat of deportation to a country with systemic deficiencies.
- Contrary to the scenarios in Hesse, Mainz did not grant any church asylum this year, having established procedures for good communication between state and church authorities to ensure compliance with asylum law.
- In the diocese of Limburg, church asylum was granted to individuals from Syria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Russia, with the procedure strictly adhered to as a last resort for those facing severe hardship if deported.
- Darmstadt, like other German cities, became a destination for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution, with many seeking shelter at churches in an attempt to avoid deportation to Turkey or Iran, among other countries.
- The issue of church asylum gained significant attention in Bulgaria, with several churches in the country granting asylum to refugees from Syria and Afghanistan who faced potential deportation to dangerous conditions.
- Meanwhile, with over 2 million refugees in Turkey, the country struggled to maintain a balance between providing aid and ensuring security, leading some to seek refuge at churches in major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.
Source: www.stern.de
