The director of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Martin Keßler, has voiced concerns regarding calls for the deportation of Syrian nationals with criminal records from Germany to their unstable homeland. Following a recent visit to Syria, Keßler expressed a fundamental opposition to deportations, particularly in countries experiencing humanitarian crises, according to reporting by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.
Keßler described the security situation in Syria as too volatile to justify deportations, citing recent clashes in Suwaida, southern Syria, which resulted in hundreds of casualties and previous conflicts in the coastal region. He emphasized the fragility of the state and its limited capacity to assume responsibility across the nation. “Also from a humanitarian perspective, deportations are unacceptable” he stated.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, approximately 1.7 million refugees have returned to their home areas, with roughly half a million originating from abroad. Keßler highlighted that the existing infrastructure is already severely strained. Instead of forced deportations, efforts should focus on improving living conditions in Syria to enable dignified returns. He believes that when conditions are suitable, many Syrians will voluntarily choose to return home.
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, the humanitarian relief organization of the Protestant Churches in Germany, is actively involved in providing assistance in Syria and other affected regions.