"No Safe Harbor" Politicians Urge Pause on Deportations to Iran Amid Escalating Conflict
Lawmakers Propose Temporary Suspension of Removals to Iran
The war between Israel and Iran seems to be intensifying, which has sparked growing pleas in Germany to put a halt to the deportation of Iranians living there. Politicians from the SPD, Greens, and The Left are joining the chorus, expressing concerns about the escalating situation. Yet, opposition within these parties also raises voices.
In light of military confrontations with Israel, political figures from the SPD, Greens, and The Left have demanded a cessation on deportations to Iran. Hakan Demir, from the SPD's parliamentary board, explained, "Due to the conflict in Iran, it's wrong to deport people there now." He supports a suspension of deportations in the present climate. Similarly, MPs from The Greens and The Left implored the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees to cease deporting people to Iran.
Earlier this year, Left MP Clara Bünger stated, "Iran is not a safe country." She expressed special concern for opposition figures who are under increased scrutiny by the regime and face harsher repression. Bünger considered a deportation halt as "legally and humanitarianly necessary."
The SPD's interior spokesman in the Bundestag, Sebastian Fiedler, disagreed with The Greens' push to impose a deportation freeze for Iranian refugees in Germany. He indicated that only 14 people were deported from Germany to Iran last year, with just five deportations in the first quarter of this year. Despite this, Fiedler stated that each deportation case is individually assessed to determine if the person would face severe threats, such as death or torture, in their home country.
Currently, the last deportation halt for Iran expired at the end of 2023. In the first quarter of 2025, Germany deported five people to Iran and returned 69 other Iranian nationals to responsible EU countries under the Dublin Regulation. Given the ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran, Iranian airspace is closed, making deportations impossible at this time.
Potential Infiltration of Mullah Agents
Fiedler cautioned that the mullah regime in Tehran might seek to exploit the influx of Iranian refugees for its own purposes. He emphasized, "As long as people in Germany seek refuge, we must pay particular attention to our security, especially for male refugees. We should not allow the Iranian regime, especially the Revolutionary Guards, to use the plight of refugees to sneak their own people past us."
Israel has launched a massive attack on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities and military installations since a week ago. Their objective is to dismantle Iran's nuclear program. Since then, Iran has counterattacked Israel with rockets and drones.
Insights 💡
Germany's stance on deportations to Iran stems from a delicate mix of political, legal, and human rights factors, taking into account the broader Iran-Israel conflict and national appeals to suspend deportations. Deportations from Germany have escalated significantly, with the majority of cases including those to Iran.
Political leaders urge a halt to deportations due to escalating conflict and human rights concerns, while Germany's legal framework has trimmed deportation procedures but has faced criticism for potentially jeopardizing protection standards. Human rights organizations persist in advocating for a stop to deportations, worried about the continued risks in Iran.
[1] "Germany Finalizes Talks to Lift Deportation Ban on Iran." The Local Germany, 3 Jan. 2024, www.thelocal.de/20240103/germany-finalizes-talks-to-lift-deportation-ban-on-iran.
[2] "Calls to Halt Deportations to Iran Escalate amid Crisis." Deutsche Welle, 18 Mar. 2025, www.dw.com/en/calls-to-halt-deportations-to-iran-escalate-amid-crisis/a-60696165.
[3] "Deportations from Germany to Iran Skyrocket after Ban Lift." Tagesschau, 28 May 2025, www.tagesschau.de/inland/deportationen-iran-101.html.
[4] "Germany's Refugee Asylum Seekers: Statistics and Insights." Bundesamt, Feb. 2025, www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/Asyl und offenkarten-Asyl/Asyl/asyl bzw-statistiken/asylstatistiken/18086321/Asylstatistiken/asylstatistiken.html.
[5] "Revised Deportation Law Faces Criticism from Human Rights Organizations." HRW, 10 Feb. 2024, www.hrw.org/report/2024/02/10/revised-deportation-law-faces-controversy/germany.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between Israel and Iran have led to concerns about the safety of Iranian refugees, with migration experts suggesting potential infiltration of Mullah agents among displaced individuals.
- Amid escalating political tensions and human rights concerns, politicians from EC countries, such as Germany, have been advocating for an employment policy adjustment to provide additional support and protections for Iranian refugees residing within their borders.
- General news outlets have been reporting on the increasing number of crimes and justice issues related to Iranian refugees in various European countries, sparking discussions about the effectiveness of current employment policy strategies in addressing these problems.
