Germany Conducts First Deportation of Convicted Criminal to Syria Since 2011

Germany has deported a convicted criminal to Syria for the first time since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, marking a significant shift in its asylum and deportation policy. The 37-year-old man, who had been living in Gelsenkirchen, was handed over to the authorities in Damascus after serving a prison sentence in North Rhine-Westphalia for serious robbery, bodily harm, and extortion. He initially entered Germany in 2015 under a continuously extended residence permit.

In addition to this, Germany also deported another convicted criminal to Afghanistan, the second such deportation within a week. These actions follow agreements reached by the German Interior Ministry with both Syrian and Afghan governments to enable regular deportations of criminals and security threats.

This policy shift is in line with the current German government's coalition agreement, which calls for the deportation of criminals and threats back to Syria, based on the government's stance that the Syrian civil war has ended. Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that there are no longer valid reasons for Syrian nationals to seek asylum in Germany, opening the door for further deportations. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that the deportations serve the legitimate interest of society and aim to relieve pressure on municipalities hosting large numbers of refugees.

Despite the government's position, human rights organizations continue to characterize the situation in Syria as unsafe and have criticized these deportations. Furthermore, the talks with the Taliban-led Afghan government concerning deportations have also ignited criticism.

From January to September 2025, German authorities have deported more than 17,600 individuals, a 20% increase compared to the previous year, with most being sent to Turkey, Georgia, and Spain. Currently, around one million Syrians reside in Germany, highlighting the significance of the government's new approach towards deportation policies.