A desperate plea has been issued to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government by Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan, urgently demanding adherence to previously offered protection and a halt to potential forced returns to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The refugees, numbering approximately 2,000 individuals, detailed their harrowing circumstances in a two-page letter, revealed by “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, expressing profound fear of imminent danger should they be repatriated.
“We fled Taliban rule to survive” the letter states, emphasizing the impossibility of repatriation. “We cannot return to Afghanistan. Such a return would end brutally and violently for many of us”. The letter, compiled via a chat group amongst 600 of the stranded refugees, represents a collective and unprecedented direct appeal to German political authorities, marking a significant escalation in their campaign for safe passage and protection. Many have been waiting in Pakistan for months, some even years.
The refugees’ anxiety stems from a perceived shift in policy under the current German government, which appears intent on curtailing the promised asylum process, despite existing legal obligations and recent financial penalties levied against the state for non-compliance. The offer by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to provide a few thousand euros in exchange for relinquishing asylum claims has ignited outrage within the group, who argue their flight is rooted in violence and death, not poverty. “We are not fleeing poverty, but violence and death” the letter reads, expressing bewilderment and deep disappointment at the perceived betrayal by a nation previously viewed as a beacon of safety.
The situation has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Marcel Emmerich, the Green Party’s domestic policy spokesperson, condemned the government’s actions as “a scandal” accusing them of disregarding commitments and exposing vulnerable individuals to torture and persecution. He argued the government’s apparent prioritization of financial savings over humanitarian obligations represents a grave moral failing. The letter underscores a growing concern among human rights organizations regarding the evolving asylum policies of the German government and the potential for significant humanitarian repercussions. The refugees’ call for intervention highlights the precarious legal and ethical tightrope currently facing Berlin as it navigates escalating domestic political pressure and international legal responsibility.
