Recently, a fatal knife attack has put pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, forcing it to tighten its immigration policies. The attack occurred last Friday during the 650th anniversary celebration in the city of Solingen, resulting in 3 deaths and 8 injuries.
Following the introduction of stricter immigration measures on Thursday (August 29), the German ruling coalition on Friday (August 30) resumed its plan to airlift Afghan criminals back to their country. Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, Berlin had halted the repatriation of Afghans due to human rights considerations.
According to the German news website “Spiegel Online,” after months of secret negotiations with the mediator Qatar, a flight to the Afghan capital Kabul took off from Leipzig, Germany earlier on Friday (August 30) carrying 28 convicted criminals.
Scholz welcomed a solution proposed by opposition leader Friedrich Merz on Tuesday (August 27), but the government rejected some of Merz’s suggestions, such as declaring a national emergency and prohibiting Syrians and Afghans from entering Germany.
Reuters reported that the latest immigration plan will be voted on by both houses of the German parliament, including stricter gun control and ownership regulations, banning the use of switchblade knives, and prohibiting the carrying of knives at public events such as folk festivals and sporting events.
The overview document of the measures states that federal law enforcement officers will be authorized to use stun guns. In addition, background checks for weapon permits will include new measures to prevent extremists from obtaining weapons.
Berlin will also tighten asylum and residency laws and procedures, including lowering the threshold for “serious expulsions,” allowing for mandatory expulsion of those who commit crimes involving weapons or dangerous tools, and imposing harsher penalties for serious crimes (including juvenile offenses).
The document indicates that asylum seekers who apply in other European countries will be excluded from receiving welfare in Germany. Refusing to return to their home countries without convincing reasons will put refugees at risk of losing their asylum status.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann stated at a press conference that, “If someone is only vacationing in their country of origin, and previously told us they cannot safely live there, then they must lose their asylum status.”
This regulation does not apply to Ukrainian refugees.
The assailant in last Friday’s attack is reportedly a Syrian asylum seeker suspected of being a member of the Islamic State terrorist organization. Scholz referred to the attack as “terrorism,” further escalating political pressure on Germany to take a tougher stance on immigration policy.
Buschmann mentioned that the new measures will be implemented “as soon as possible.” However, the process is expected to take several months as it must go through Germany’s legislative process, including approval by the cabinet and voting in both houses of parliament.
In recent months, there has been an increase in knife attacks in Germany, sparking a nationwide debate on enhancing security controls and establishing knife-free zones. According to federal police data, around 430 such attacks occurred in the first half of 2024.
As immigration issues are a focal point of concern for voters before the three state elections in eastern Germany in September, right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads or closely competes in local polls in these three states, advocating against immigration.
According to Politico Europe, the announcement of the new immigration measures comes on the eve of crucial elections in two eastern German states, where AfD is expected to garner around 30% of the votes.