The case of the rejected Eritrean asylum seeker Kahlid O., currently the subject of media attention, once again raises questions about German asylum policy. Despite entering via safe third countries and having his asylum application rejected, he committed several criminal offenses. After serving a prison sentence and receiving release payments, he reoffended. Deportation is currently considered unlikely, as Eritrea refuses to provide identification. The man is now receiving psychiatric treatment at the state’s expense and remains in Germany. Regarding this, ESN parliamentary group MEP Mary Khan states:
“Countries like Eritrea have received millions of euros in aid payments from the European Union for years, yet refuse to take back their rejected nationals once their asylum claims are denied.
Germany must immediately part ways with the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act! Asylum seekers should no longer receive monetary benefits but should instead only receive in-kind benefits for the duration of their procedures.
As long as the federal government is not willing to act, benefits for rejected asylum seekers must be suspended, foreign remittances to their countries of origin must be immediately banned, and pressure on countries of origin must be increased by suspending aid payments.
Countries like Eritrea that actively prevent the return of rejected asylum seekers must no longer be rewarded for their behavior.”
