Hundreds of people in Kabul plead for relocation to Germany

In a letter addressed to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Foreign and Interior Ministries, a group of 200 Afghans—comprising artists, civil and human rights activists, judges, prosecutors, former Afghan government officials, female heads of households, local government officials, and journalists—have expressed their fear of potential revenge, arbitrary imprisonment, abduction, torture, or death.

This situation has been previously reported by "Spiegel". The group was deported from Pakistan to Afghanistan mid-month, but now find themselves in a precarious position, with their lives hanging in the balance.

The request of these individuals is being examined in light of the necessary security checks. The group arrived in the Lower Saxony state capital on two planes, having obtained visas through legal proceedings. They are part of a program intended to admit Afghans who fear persecution by the Islamic Taliban, including former local government officials of German institutions and their relatives, and those who have previously advocated for human rights.

However, the black-red federal government stopped the admission program for endangered Afghan women and men in May after taking office. The Greens party leader, Felix Banaszak, and several members of the Bundestag have written to the federal government, backing the demands of the 200 Afghans.

The group is currently accommodated by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Kabul, but they consider their hiding place not safe. They believe that every hour of delay could cost their lives and have trusted in Germany's promises not to let their trust cost them and their children's lives.

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is currently checking the eligibility for entry into Germany on a case-by-case basis. According to the Foreign Office, there are currently 2,100 persons from the admission program in Pakistan and 200 in Afghanistan. Merz emphasizes that a security check precedes each individual entry.

Several families who remained in Pakistan were brought to Hannover by scheduled flight on Monday, with a stopover in Istanbul. All 47 Afghan nationals have completed the admission procedure and security checks.

As the situation unfolds, the fate of these 200 Afghans remains uncertain. Their plea for swift exit to Germany serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing dangers faced by those who speak out against the Taliban regime.