KABUL, AFGHANISTAN –The German government has deported 31 Afghan nationals, including one person without a criminal record, on a direct flight to Kabul, German media reported, as Berlin continues removals to Afghanistan despite widespread criticism.
According to Deutsche Welle, the deportation was carried out on Monday night, with the aircraft carrying the individuals departing from Leipzig/Halle Airport and flying to Kabul International Airport.
Germany’s Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed the deportation, saying that 30 of the individuals had been convicted of serious crimes in Germany, including murder, rape, and violent offences, while one person had not committed a crime but was still required to leave the country.
Germany halted direct deportations to Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and Berlin closed its embassy in Kabul. Limited returns of convicted Afghan nationals resumed in 2024 under the government of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with deportations carried out via third countries.
The current government, which took office in May 2025, has made the removal of foreign nationals convicted of crimes a priority and has held discussions with Taliban officials in Qatar and Kabul to facilitate regular direct deportation flights.
German authorities deported 81 convicted Afghan men in an operation via Qatar in mid-2025, the first such removals under the current administration. In February, Germany also deported 20 Afghan nationals on a direct flight to Kabul following an agreement with Taliban authorities.
German newspaper taz reported that Germany has deported 215 Afghan nationals since 2024, including 77 so far this year. The report said authorities are also considering the removal of Afghan nationals who have not committed crimes and are not regarded as security threats to the country.
The move comes amid broader efforts across parts of the European Union to increase deportations of rejected asylum seekers and foreign nationals convicted of crimes. Last month, the EU hosted a Taliban delegation in Brussels to discuss practical arrangements, including potential cooperation on deportation procedures.
The United Nations, some EU politicians, and human rights organizations have criticized both the growing number of returns to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and the increased official contact with the group. They maintain that the country remains unsafe for forced returns and that engagement risks legitimizing a regime responsible for widespread human rights violations.
