Germany’s latest charter removal to Afghanistan took off from Leipzig/Halle airport at 01:43 a.m. on 28 July 2026, carrying about 30 Afghan nationals, most of whom the Interior Ministry described as repeat or serious criminal offenders. Some 250 demonstrators gathered inside the terminal late Monday, denouncing the government’s cooperation with the Taliban and calling for an immediate moratorium. Police kept protesters away from the secure apron. Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster defended the operation, insisting that “public security outweighs the residence interest of dangerous offenders.” Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the removal proved the coalition’s resolve to implement its “migration turnaround” policy, which foresees regular deportations to both Afghanistan and Syria despite ongoing security concerns in those countries. Human-rights groups, including Pro Asyl and Amnesty International Germany, argued that the flight violates the principle of non-refoulement, citing UN reports of arbitrary detentions by Taliban authorities. The UNHCR continues to advise against forced returns to Afghanistan. Legal clinics report a sharp rise in emergency appeals; however, most were rejected by administrative courts on grounds of public safety. For global-mobility managers the case underscores heightened enforcement: foreign employees or family members who lose legal status face expedited removal once final orders are issued, even if they originate from unsafe countries. Companies are advised to audit residence permits proactively and assist staff in timely renewals, especially with processing delays caused by summer staffing shortages at foreigners’ offices.
Source: tagesschau.de
