German Court Upholds Deportation of Yazidi Family
The Potsdam Administrative Court has rejected an emergency application by a Yazidi family seeking reentry to Germany after their deportation to Iraq. The decision highlights the ongoing debate about the legal protections afforded to survivors of the IS genocide.
Court Ruling Details
The court found no grounds to reverse the deportation, stating that the family's removal was lawful based on a March 2023 decision by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The BAMF had previously rejected their protection claim as "manifestly unfounded."
Controversy Surrounding the Case
The family, consisting of two parents and four children, belonged to the Yazidi minority. They were victims of the 2014 IS genocide. Their deportation from Leipzig to Baghdad was controversial, especially after authorities initially claimed that only single men were on board the flight. This claim was later proven to be false.
Reactions and Concerns
Brandenburg's interior minister expressed deep concern and requested federal authorities to work on bringing the family back. Advocacy groups like Nadia's Initiative warn that other Yazidi families in Germany face similar removal orders. Politicians are calling for the family’s return, citing Germany's moral responsibility towards genocide survivors. This case has reignited the debate over German asylum policy regarding communities affected by mass atrocities.