Germany Studying Ways to Deport Syrian Criminals, Extremists

Refugees from Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan wait at the first registration point for migrants in southern Germany, September 2015 (Getty Images)
Refugees from Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan wait at the first registration point for migrants in southern Germany, September 2015 (Getty Images)
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Germany Studying Ways to Deport Syrian Criminals, Extremists

Refugees from Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan wait at the first registration point for migrants in southern Germany, September 2015 (Getty Images)
Refugees from Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan wait at the first registration point for migrants in southern Germany, September 2015 (Getty Images)

The German Interior Ministry is studying different ways to deport Syrian criminals and extremists.

State Secretary Helmut Teichmann told the German Press Agency that the ministry had examined various options since the conference of interior ministers in autumn 2020, including the possibility of deporting criminals and people who have given a false identity to “parts of the country that are not controlled by the Syrian army.”

Teichmann said they are also considering whether to exempt convicted Syrians serving their remaining sentence.

"The prerequisite for this is, of course, in each individual case that the public prosecutor agrees."

According to The Federal Ministry of Interior, 347 Syrians received financial support from Germany in 2019 to return home.

Last year, despite the coronavirus pandemic, 83 people returned to Syria with state aid. In the first five months of this year, 42 Syrians also received helped to return.



Israel Summons Turkish Envoy Over Half-mast Salute for Hamas Leader

Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Israel Summons Turkish Envoy Over Half-mast Salute for Hamas Leader

Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Israel's foreign ministry summoned the deputy Turkish ambassador for a reprimand on Friday after Türkiye's embassy in Tel Aviv lowered its flag to half mast in response to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

"The State of Israel will not tolerate expressions of mourning for a murderer like Ismail Haniyeh," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

Haniyeh was killed in Tehran while there to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel has not made any official claim of responsibility for his death but Iran and allies including Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of the assassination and vowed revenge, Reuters reported.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared Friday, Aug 2, a day of national mourning for Haniyeh.

Tensions between Israel and Türkiye have risen sharply since the start of the war in Gaza, in which more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed.