Germany on Tuesday deported 25 Afghan migrants convicted of various criminal offences to Kabul via a charter flight, citing public safety concerns.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the aircraft took off from Leipzig overnight and landed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, in the morning.
The deportees had been convicted in Germany of offences including manslaughter, rape, grievous bodily harm, and drug-related crimes.
The flight is part of a direct agreement between the German government and the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, which allows Berlin to conduct regular deportations without relying on intermediary countries.
German police accompanied the individuals and are expected to return after handing them over to the Taliban authorities.
Most of the deportees were transferred directly from prison to the airport.
They had been serving sentences in various German states for crimes ranging from theft, trafficking in stolen goods, and drug trafficking to gang rape, involuntary manslaughter, hostage-taking, kidnapping for extortion, and politically motivated offences.
This is the second such deportation this year. In February, 20 convicted migrants were also deported to Afghanistan.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the move as “absolutely necessary,” emphasising that individuals who violate German laws must face consequences regardless of their asylum status.
He said the action reflects Germany’s commitment to balancing humanitarian obligations with law enforcement and public safety priorities.
