Germany has begun deporting large groups of Turkish citizens, many of them of Kurdish origin, following a new agreement between Berlin and Ankara. The deal, announced on 28 September, allows for the deportation of up to 15,561 Turkish citizens, starting with 200 people returned on scheduled flights and 500 more each week on “special flights”. Previously, Turkey had resisted charter flights, but now accepts them under this rebranded term.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser explained that the agreement will streamline deportations for those without residency permits, making the process “more effective and faster”. The deportations follow a sharp rise in asylum applications from Turkish citizens, the third largest group behind Syria and Afghanistan.
Kurdish organisations in Germany have voiced strong opposition to the deal, warning that it targets individuals fleeing persecution. Kerem Gök, co-chair of the Confederation of Kurdish Associations in Germany (KON-MED), criticised the agreement: “If Europe truly wants to stop refugee flows, they need to resolve issues in Turkey, especially the Kurdish question. Without addressing these root causes, the refugee crisis will continue.”
Other Kurdish leaders have echoed these concerns, highlighting the risks faced by deportees. “We know that many of those being deported are wanted individuals in Turkey,” stated İsmail Parmaksız, head of Mala Kurda Berlin-Brandenburg. He called the deal a “dirty trade”, accusing both Turkey and Germany of profiting at the expense of human lives. “Turkey’s struggling economy and Germany’s need for border control are driving this agreement, with the Kurdish people paying the price.”
Hüseyin Yılmaz, co-chair of the Kurdish group Nav-Berlin, pointed to the dire conditions awaiting those sent back: “These people are returning to imprisonment, torture, or worse. The war and economic difficulties in Turkey and Kurdistan have driven many Kurds to seek refuge. Deporting them under such circumstances is morally reprehensible.”
The agreement also comes amidst growing anti-immigrant sentiment in Germany, fuelled by the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Hüseyin Taşan, from the Kurdish Community of Berlin-Brandenburg, warned that the deal is part of a broader shift in German politics. “We are at a crossroads in Germany. Democracy forces must stand firm, or far-right parties like AfD will continue to gain power, driven by xenophobia.”
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