"Halting Deportations to Iran: A Contentious Issue in Germany's Asylum Policy"
Politicians Advocate for Temporary Suspension of Deportations to Iran
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has sparked renewed debate in Germany over the safety of sending Iranians back to their home country. Politicians from various parties, including the SPD, Greens, and The Left, have called for a halt to deportations, citing the escalating tensions as a primary concern.
Hakan Demir, a member of the SPD's parliamentary board, expressed his sentiment by stating, "It would be wrong to deport people into the war in Iran now." The Greens and The Left have echoed similar sentiments, imploring the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees to reconsider deportations.
However, not all politicians share this view. Sebastian Fiedler, the SPD's interior spokesman in the Bundestag, believes that it's currently "hardly possible to deport anyone to Iran." He emphasizes that every individual case is thoroughly scrutinized to determine if the person in question may face serious dangers such as death or torture.
Germany's history of deportations to Iran shows an uptick, with over 6,000 people being deported from the country in the first quarter of 2025. This significant increase contrasts with previous years[1][4]. While a nationwide removal ban on Iran was initially enacted in October 2022, it was lifted in January 2024, allowing for resumed deportations.
Critics argue that this renewed wave of deportations, facilitated by recent legal reforms aimed at expediting removals, may put the lives of those deported at risk amid the ongoing conflict and internal repression in Iran[5]. Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for a halt to deportations, but as of June 2025, there is no official, current suspension in place[2].
Some German federal states have imposed removal bans in light of the controversy, but these measures have been overridden at the federal level since 2024[3]. Iran's nuclear program and the escalating conflict with Israel continue to fuel concerns, as the Iranian government may attempt to exploit refugees seeking asylum for its own purposes[6].
In conclusion, the issue of deportations to Iran remains contentious within Germany's asylum policy. Despite calls from various politicians and human rights groups to halt deportations due to the ongoing conflict and human rights concerns, the country continues to deport Iranian nationals under a legal framework that has become stricter and faster since early 2024, with no active deportation ban for Iranian asylum seekers currently in place[1][2][3][5].
- Deportations to Iran
- Iran Conflict
- Israel War
- Asylum Policy
- Germany
- SPD
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- The Left
- Iranian Government
[1] Source: ntv.de, gut/AFP[2] Source: Amnesty International[3] Source: Bundesverfassungsgericht[4] Source: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)[5] Source: Human Rights Watch[6] Source: Der Stern
- The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, and the escalating human rights concerns in Iran, have sparked renewed debate in Germany's asylum policy, particularly regarding the safety of deporting Iranians back to their home country.
- Politicians from various parties, such as the SPD, Greens, and The Left, have advocated for a halt to deportations to Iran, citing the escalating tensions and potential risks to the safety and well-being of the affected individuals as primary concerns.
