The left party in the German Bundestag is demanding a halt to the forced return of refugees to Iran and a guarantee of safe, legal routes for those fleeing the war zone to reach Germany.
Clara Bünger, an inside‑politics specialist for the party, said that people seeking protection must be able to approach German diplomatic missions in neighboring states where they could obtain humanitarian visas for a secure entry.
To enable this, the federal government would have to reinstate the intake provisions of § 22 of the Residence Act – a policy that the governing coalition of the Union and SPD had suspended.
Bünger explained that many Iranians are now rightly looking to bring themselves and their families to safety, citing the heavy oppression by the Islamic Republic. She warned that the “unlawful invasion” of the country threatens even more lives, and that the heavily fortified borders of the EU will likely make escape deadly for many. Hence the Left’s demand for credible, legal flight paths.
Until now, neither EU authorities nor the German government have observed large‑scale movements of people out of Iran. Nonetheless, humanitarian organisations highlight a worsening supply situation in the region. The UN reports that roughly 30 000 people in Lebanon have been registered in state‑designated emergency shelters amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
Alexander Throm, a CDU interior politician, stated that he does not see a mass exodus headed for Europe at the moment. He added that vigilance is still necessary and emphasized the importance of supporting the neighboring countries of Iran in hosting refugees, a role that could be amplified through EU cooperation.
