Three Afghans in church asylum: Hope for a new future in Germany

Three Afghans in church asylum: Hope for a new future in Germany

In Bremen, more precisely in Lesum, the topic of church asylum is currently being hotly debated. The focus is on three Afghans who fled their homeland ten and eleven years ago and lived in Sweden for several years. There they attended school, completed training and worked in their jobs. But a work ban and the threat of repatriation to Afghanistan prompted her to emigrate to Germany. According to European law, the country that is the first to accept refugees in Europe is responsible - and that could be Sweden. Weser courier reports that the Afghans could be sent back to Sweden within six months unless they enjoy the protection of church asylum.

Currently, two of the three men have already applied for church asylum in the Church of the Resurrection in Lesum, while the process for one of them is still ongoing. Lars Ackermann, managing director of the church association refuge, has examined the men's situation in detail and is convinced that they have "zero future" in Afghanistan. In Germany, due to the ongoing shortage of skilled workers, their training could be an advantage and also save the state costs. Deutschlandfunk Nova points out that this type of asylum, although not legally recognized, is supported by moral convictions and serves to protect people from deportation.

Challenges and best opportunities for refugees

A central aspect of church asylum is the possibility of gaining time to reassess asylum applications. Protection is usually granted in cases of hardship when there is an acute threat to life or limb, as the situation of the three Afghans shows. The men must also have a positive perspective about staying in the country. Many hope for obstacles to deportation that could be due to state persecution. Religious Policy Expert Initiative summarizes that the legal basis of church asylum is based on political agreements and not on a legal basis. This leads to an exciting, albeit legally questionable, situation.

The challenges for the Afghans lie not only in the uncertainty of their asylum procedures, but also in social acceptance. Since the men have a Western background, they fear that they will not be well received in Afghanistan. They are motivated to work with the aim of quickly getting out of state benefits - but it remains unclear how the asylum authorities will decide on their applications. However, a certain degree of hope remains because Germany is currently not deporting criminals to Afghanistan, apart from criminals, and could therefore find a more pragmatic solution.

The role of churches and communities

Support from communities and churches is an indispensable part of the asylum process. Church asylum has been available as a protective instrument for over 40 years and has given hope to numerous refugees. According to figures from 2022, 859 Protestant, 243 Catholic and 15 free church communities offered refuge to those seeking protection. Religious Policy Expert Initiative emphasizes that the tradition of church asylum goes back to ancient times and still plays an important role in dealing with refugees today. However, the churches are also criticized because they could undermine existing law and prevent deportations.

The situation of the three Afghans from Lesum is not just an individual escape story, but also reflects the complex debate about deportation, protection and human fate. The coming weeks will be decisive as to whether and how a new life can be made possible for them in Germany.