Sylt's Mayor calls on German government to halt deportations to Afghanistan

Amid ongoing war and humanitarian crisis

German politician demands immediate suspension of deportations

Sylt's Mayor Nikolas Häckel is urging the German government to immediately halt deportations to Afghanistan, citing the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in the country.

"The situation in Afghanistan is more dangerous than ever," Häckel said in a statement. "The Taliban's takeover has led to a sharp increase in violence and human rights abuses, and the country is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe."

Häckel pointed to a recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which found that the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan has increased by more than 50% since the Taliban took control. The report also found that more than 3 million Afghans have been displaced from their homes since the start of the year.

"In light of this evidence, it is clear that it is no longer safe to return Afghan asylum seekers to their home country," Häckel said. "The German government must suspend deportations immediately and grant asylum to all those who are fleeing violence and persecution."

Häckel's call for a halt to deportations is supported by a growing number of human rights groups and politicians. In recent weeks, the German government has been under increasing pressure to reconsider its deportation policy, and several states have already announced that they will suspend deportations to Afghanistan.