Pakistani authorities file a complaint against German politicians Dobrindt and Wadephul, alleging misconduct towards Afghans who received acceptance notifications in Pakistan - Criminal complaint filed against Dobrindt and Wadephul over Afghan nationals with residency permits in Pakistan
In a dramatic turn of events, a criminal complaint has been filed against German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. The allegations against the ministers involve charges of "abandonment" and "failure to render assistance" under Section 221 of Germany's Criminal Code.
The complaint, filed by advocacy groups including PRO ASYL and Patenschaftsnetzwerk Ortskräfte, was made in mid-August 2025. The groups allege that the ministers failed to prevent the deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan who had been granted admission to Germany.
The situation is particularly dire for those who have been deported. According to reports, at least 34 Afghans, including women and men, have been sent back to Afghanistan since mid-August. Upon their return, they face severe risks, including execution, imprisonment, and mistreatment, as the Taliban now control the country.
The humanitarian concerns are not limited to those who have been deported. There are approximately 2300 people with legally binding acceptance notices in Pakistan, including around 1700 women and children. One such individual is a 27-year-old women's rights activist from Afghanistan, who had a promise of acceptance from Germany but now fears arrest by Pakistani police due to friends in another shelter being arrested.
A 33-year-old man, who worked for German aid organizations in Afghanistan for three years, has been in Islamabad with his family for 13 months, awaiting a travel permit from Germany. He pleads with Germany not to leave his family and him "alone and not to withdraw to a spectator role."
The Taliban consider these individuals enemies they want to take revenge on. A Pakistani police officer is reportedly looking for the 27-year-old women's rights activist and her family.
The UNHCR has urged Pakistan to stop forcible returns, citing human rights abuses in Afghanistan. The coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD in Germany states that these acceptance programs should be ended "as far as possible." However, the SPD is in high-level contact with the Pakistani government to help those in acceptance programs quickly.
The German government started acceptance programs for at-risk Afghan women and men for humanitarian reasons. Former Afghan local forces of German government organizations are particularly at risk from the Taliban, according to Alexander Froehlich from the Patenschaftsnetzwerk Ortskraefte.
On the fourth anniversary of the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan, Johann Wadephul expressed "great concern" about the situation of those still in Pakistan from the acceptance programs. The Federal Ministry of the Interior is conducting individual case checks for all those in acceptance programs, verifying if there is a legally binding promise.
As the investigation into the criminal complaint against Dobrindt and Wadephul unfolds, the fate of these Afghans remains uncertain. The international community continues to watch closely, hoping for a resolution that ensures the safety and well-being of these individuals.
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- In light of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and the criminal complaint against German ministers, there is a urgent need for EC countries to cooperate and establish a unified policy to protect Afghans at risk, providing legal assistance, and expediting the asylum process for those in acceptance programs.
- As the investigation progresses and the international community monitors the situation, it is crucial for governments, legislative bodies, human rights organizations, and general news outlets to work together and prioritize the cooperation necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable Afghans, addressing the gravity of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation concerns.
