The German government has rejected the visa applications of more than 30 Afghan families in Pakistan following a review of their cases.
The German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau reported on Sunday, October 18, criticizing the German government’s handling of the cases and stating that the second review had not changed any of the previous decisions.
The newspaper added that the German government had complied with the Constitutional Court’s order only in appearance.
Germany’s Constitutional Court had previously emphasized that each individual case must be reviewed separately before any promise of admission is revoked.
The families include former judges and former intelligence agency employees who face threats from the Taliban because of their past work.
They also include women who fear torture and death at the hands of the Taliban because of their work defending women’s rights in Afghanistan.
In addition to security threats, these women face the risks of forced marriage and poverty.
Frankfurter Rundschau reported that the women could receive legal protection if they were in Germany and applied for asylum, but they have been deprived of this opportunity.
According to the report, around 500 Afghan nationals in total are waiting in Pakistan to be relocated to Germany.
