Germany Deports 47 Iraqi Nationals

Germany has deported 47 Iraqi nationals, according to a spokesperson from the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior on Monday.

Of those deported, 16 were residents of Lower Saxony, though the ministry did not provide further details regarding the operation.

The deportations come amid rising concerns over the fate of Iraqi and Kurdish asylum seekers in Germany.

According to Irfan Karim, a member of the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Refugee Union in Germany, about 10,000 asylum seekers from Iraq and the Kurdistan region are at risk of being deported.

Speaking to Rudaw Media Network, Karim emphasized that the German parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 23, have intensified discussions on immigration and asylum policies.

He noted that some political parties are using the refugee issue as a key campaign topic, linking it to Germany’s ongoing political and economic challenges, including the impact of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.

Germany has been tightening its immigration policies, with increasing deportations of rejected asylum seekers.

The government has faced growing pressure from conservative and right-wing parties advocating for stricter border controls and faster deportation processes.