Deportation of Afghan criminals back to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan sparks debate

Germany has deported 28 convicted Afghan criminals back to Afghanistan, marking the first deportation since the Taliban takeover. The German government negotiated with Qatar to facilitate the acceptance of the deportees by the Taliban.

There is concern that this could set a precedent for deporting Afghan nationals who are not considered serious criminals or threats. The deportations were met with controversy, with the Minister of the Interior defending the provision of €1,000 'hand money' for the deportees.

The money is intended to provide for their livelihood in Afghanistan for several months. The role of Qatar as a mediator in the deportations highlights its relationships with both Germany and the Taliban.

There are ongoing debates about the use of hand money and the potential expansion of deportations to other nationalities and countries.