Germany to Resume Deportations of Asylum Seekers to Greece
The German government is planning to resume the deportation of asylum seekers to Greece, a move that has been met with criticism from human rights groups. According to a report by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the new policy will target individuals who have already registered as asylum seekers in Greece and will involve a reduction in benefits and even their complete withdrawal if the individuals fail to leave the country despite being asked to do so.
The plan, outlined in a letter from the Federal Ministry of the Interior to the states, is expected to particularly affect “young, single, healthy and employable men.” Vulnerable groups, such as families, women and children, as well as the sick and elderly, will be exempt from the policy.
The decision to change course has been influenced by a recent court ruling. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, in a judgment delivered on April 16, declared that “non-vulnerable” migrants would not face degrading or inhumane living conditions if deported to Greece. The court dismissed the appeals of a 34-year-old Palestinian man from the Gaza Strip and a 32-year-old Somali man, paving the way for the rejection of asylum applications beyond individual cases.
The German government’s decision has been criticized by human rights groups, who argue that the conditions in Greece’s asylum system are still uncertain and that the country is not a safe place for asylum seekers. The move is seen as a step back in the country’s efforts to provide protection to those in need of it.