Syrian Extended Family Involved in Over 160 Crimes Leaves Germany in Controlled Exit
A Syrian family linked to over 160 crimes in Stuttgart has nearly completely left Germany via a state-supported voluntary departure, as deportation to Syria remains unfeasible.
- • 17 of 20 Syrian family members have left Germany after involvement in over 160 crimes.
- • Three members remain in custody due to a knife attack conviction, expected to return to Syria after prison.
- • The family voluntarily renounced asylum status and left through a controlled exit supported by the Ministry of Justice and Migration.
- • Deportation to Syria is currently impossible; convicted members face re-entry bans from five years to indefinite.
- • Stuttgart Mayor welcomed the departure, citing the family's threat to peaceful coexistence.
Key details
A Syrian extended family, long notorious for their criminal activities in Stuttgart, has almost entirely departed Germany. Justice Minister Marion Gentges (CDU) confirmed that 17 of the 20 family members have left, with an initial four leaving over the summer and 13 more departing this past weekend. Three members remain in custody following a conviction related to a knife attack on Stuttgart’s Königstraße, though the verdict is not yet final; these brothers are expected to return to Syria after completing part of their sentences in Germany.
The family has been linked to more than 160 criminal offenses including extortion, bodily harm, robbery, attempted manslaughter, and other serious crimes. While not all allegations led to convictions, six of the departed members do carry criminal sentences. Notably, a 15-year-old family member has been legally entangled since the age of 12. The 44-year-old father was convicted of resisting police and is under investigation for social benefit fraud.
Due to the impossibility of deporting individuals to Syria currently, the family opted for a "controlled exit," a voluntary departure process facilitated by the Ministry of Justice and Migration’s Special Task Force for Dangerous Foreigners. This approach, which financially supported departures at an average cost of €1,350 per individual (totaling about €23,000 for the 17), was the only feasible solution to end their stay. All family members have renounced their asylum status, had residence permits revoked, and convicted persons face a re-entry ban ranging from five years to indefinitely.
The family entered Germany between 2015 and 2020 as recognized refugees or under subsidiary protection fleeing the Syrian civil war and resided primarily in northern Stuttgart. Stuttgart Mayor Frank Nopper (CDU) welcomed their departure, stating the family had threatened peaceful coexistence in the city and had previously urged their rapid deportation.
This controlled exit marks a significant development in addressing a persistent public safety concern in Stuttgart, highlighting the challenges Germany faces in dealing with criminal asylum seekers when deportation options are limited due to geopolitical constraints.