Germany to deport Afghans and Syrians who have committed serious crimes, Chancellor Scholz says

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Germany is planning to change its regulations to deport Afghans and Syrians who have committed serious crimes, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Thursday.

Addressing lawmakers in parliament, following a knife attack that killed a police officer last week, Scholz said Germany will not tolerate religious extremists and criminals, who exploit the country’s laws protecting refugees.

“Such criminals should be deported even if they come from Syria and Afghanistan. Serious criminals and terrorists have no place here. In such cases the security interests of Germany outweigh the protection interests of the perpetrator,” he said.

Scholz said the Interior Ministry is currently working on legal changes and practical steps to enable the deportation of Afghan nationals who have committed terrorists acts or serious crimes to their home country.

“We will no longer tolerate terrorist crimes being glorified and celebrated, this is a slap in the face of the victims, their loved ones, and our democratic system. Therefore we will tighten our deportation regulations,” he said, adding that those who glorify terrorism will also be deported.