Church asylum for Somalis: Bishop criticizes deportation policy!

Church asylum for Somalis: Bishop criticizes deportation policy!

In Berlin, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) is causing a stir by housing three Somali asylum seekers, two men and a woman, in a rectory. This measure is based on the federal government's worrying migration policy, which has been sharply criticized by Bishop Christian Stäblein, the EKD's refugee representative. The bishop describes the refugees as “very young people” with difficult experiences and advocates that the humanitarian aspects of migration policy should not be lost sight of. Stäblein reacts with horror to the rejection of those seeking protection at the borders and calls on the government to examine itself in order to find humanitarian solutions that correspond to people and their dignity. {{source_1}} reports that the Somali refugees have been in Berlin since Pentecost and were accommodated in the capital for medical and humanitarian reasons.

The refugees had made several attempts to reach Germany, but were turned back by federal police while they were already safe in Poland. Only the help of asylum activists made their entry possible. As if the church had lit a light in the darkness, its support now shows possible paths for church asylum if there is a threat of deportation. According to the Berlin State Office for Refugees, the Somalis are registered at the arrival center and are taking part in all necessary official appointments.

Humanity in focus

What are the challenges that a democratic society faces when it comes to migration policy? These questions arise, especially after the adoption of a controversial “5-point plan” on asylum and migration policy in the Bundestag. With the support of the CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD, this plan calls, among other things, for permanent border controls and the rejection of those seeking protection, which Stäblein sees as inadequate and against legal and European rules. In a passionate appeal, he calls on all parties to find a common discourse that puts humanity at the forefront. The bishop raises his voice against the instrumentalization of migration issues for election campaign purposes and describes the recent victory of right-wing populists as an alarming trend in democratic culture.

“It’s not just about numbers, but about people,” emphasizes Stäblein, pointing to Germany’s historical responsibility with regard to asylum and refugees. A look back to the period after the Second World War shows that Germany already made a comprehensive break with the past when the right to asylum was enshrined in the Basic Law in 1949. At that time, society was supposed to clearly distance itself from National Socialist history. In the period that followed, Germany received many refugees who came to the borders due to wars and persecution, so that the right to asylum was shaped by the fate of the people who depend on it.

The debate about asylum and migration

The discussion about migration policy is not new in Germany. After the end of the Second World War, a comprehensive asylum law was developed in West Germany in order to offer the many displaced persons and expellees of that time a safe roof over the heads. However, since the 1990s, asylum policy has changed fundamentally, primarily through the introduction of the concepts of “safe third countries” and “safe countries of origin”, which make it significantly more difficult for refugees to apply for asylum. In addition, the number of asylum applications in Germany has fallen significantly since then, making the need for reform and more humanitarian solutions all the more urgent.

“Nowadays it is even more important to respect the rights of those seeking protection and to offer them a perspective,” says Stäblein. The EKD is committed to creating a humanitarian migration regime that relies not only on the legal framework, but above all on humanity and dignity. It remains to be hoped that voices like Bishop Stäblein's will be heard and initiate the necessary changes in politics.