Germany: Protests Planned at Seven Airports Against Deportation of Afghan Refugees and Cooperation with Taliban

Germany: Protests Planned at Seven Airports Against Deportation of Afghan Refugees and Cooperation with Taliban
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Human rights organizations and refugee advocates in Germany have announced plans to hold demonstrations at seven airports across the country to protest deportation policies, particularly the removal of Afghan refugees, and the German government’s cooperation with the Taliban in carrying out returns to Afghanistan.

According to Afghan media reports citing the German Press Agency (dpa), the organizations have called for nationwide demonstrations on November 2 under the slogan “National Protest Against Deportation Madness.” The campaign aims to demand an end to deportations and a review of government policies concerning refugees and asylum seekers.

The main demonstration is expected to take place at Leipzig/Halle Airport, which has previously been used for several special flights returning Afghan nationals to their homeland. Similar protests are planned at airports in Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, Düsseldorf, Hanover, and Berlin.

Luca Müller, spokesperson for the coalition organizing the demonstrations, criticized German authorities for cooperating with the Taliban to carry out deportations, raising concerns about the safety of individuals returned to Afghanistan.

Müller said that conducting deportations in cooperation with the Taliban, while airlines profit from flights organized for this purpose, was particularly objectionable. He accused those benefiting financially from the operations of placing commercial interests ahead of the lives and futures of refugees.

Organizers emphasized that their demands extend beyond stopping the deportation of individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected. They are also opposing the detention of migrants ahead of removal and plans to expand detention centres and facilities used to carry out deportations.

Refugee rights advocates have further criticized the German government’s spending priorities, pointing to discussions about cuts to certain social and healthcare services while substantial public resources are being allocated to deportation measures and related infrastructure.

The organizers are calling on the government to reconsider the allocation of public funds toward expanding deportations, arguing that protecting human rights and maintaining essential public services should take priority over increasing removals.