Taliban receptive to negotiations over expulsions
Following the murder of a police officer in Mannheim by an Afghan, Chancellor Scholz suggested expelling individuals back to Afghanistan. The Taliban, who now govern Afghanistan, are now open to negotiations with the German government regarding deporting their citizens. Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi shared this news on X with, stating, "There is hope that both countries can come together through diplomatic channels," which would help secure the civil rights of Afghan citizens and avoid a potentially challenging future.
Prior to this, Chancellor Scholz hinted at the possibility of deporting criminals to Syria and Afghanistan during a government statement in the Bundestag. This decision came after a violent incident in Mannheim, where an Afghan injured several people during a protest and fatally wounded a police officer. Unfortunately, the officer later succumbed to his injuries.
To date, deportation to Afghanistan has not been legally approved. Scholz remained confident that the Federal Interior Ministry would explore "legally and practically feasible ways." In addition, the idea of creating agreements with other nations was also considered. However, the Taliban strongly oppose this. "It must be prevented that Afghan citizens are handed over to third countries in violation of all applicable conventions," Balkhi stated.
German Green Party leader Robert Habeck conflicted with these deportation plans, voicing concerns over engaging in negotiations with the Taliban for deportation agreements. He asserted that these negotiations could potentially lead to financial demands by the Taliban, which would not contribute to national security. Pro Asyl's Director, Karl Kopp, added that international law officially forbids deportations to Afghanistan and Syria due to the risks of torture and inhumane punishments.
Despite this, some voices from the traffic light coalition expressed support for deporting Islamist criminals to Afghanistan and Syria. Christian Dürr, leader of the FDP parliamentary group, stated that the deportation of individuals involved in Islamic crimes should be possible. He emphasized, "Those who commit Islamic crimes do not need protection from Islamic regimes, such as the Taliban."
As of now, no country has officially recognized the Taliban government. Western nations have set human and women's rights as the highest priority for potential recognition. Meanwhile, neighboring countries have adopted a more pragmatic approach to interacting with the Islamists.
