Nationwide protests against the ‘deportation frenzy’: 600 people protested at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Saturday

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On Saturday 24 October, under the slogan ‘Together against the deportation frenzy’, initiatives across the country staged protests at the airports in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne, Leipzig and Munich. At the same time, demonstrations took place in other cities, including Bielefeld and Hanover. In total, several thousand people took part in the protests.

The protests were directed against deportations, the expansion of deportation infrastructure in the form of deportation terminals or detention centres, and the increasing cooperation with third countries for the purpose of deportation.

The groups criticise the fact that public funds are being channelled into expanding deportation operations, whilst at the same time cuts are being discussed in social services and the health sector.

At Leipzig/Halle Airport, the protests – attended by 600 people – were directed in particular against deportations to Afghanistan.

“Women and girls in Afghanistan are systematically deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms. People who are at risk because of their ethnic or religious background, their political views or their activism must expect to face persecution and repression. We condemn forced deportations to Afghanistan in the strongest possible terms.

No one should be returned to a country where they face the threat of persecution and where their safety and human dignity are not guaranteed. We call for an end to deportations to Afghanistan and for the effective protection of the human rights and safety of all refugees,” explains Nasima Haidari from the Support Afghanistan initiative.

One of the largest demonstrations of the day of action took place in Munich. Protests against the planned construction of a specialised deportation terminal have been gathering momentum here for several months now.

“Together with over a thousand people, we have today made a clear demand of Munich Airport: Stop this inhumane project! We want an airport that stands for welcome and openness, rather than providing the infrastructure for mass deportations,” said Katharina Grote from the “Stop the MUC Deportation Terminal” campaign.

“For We’ll Come United, resistance to deportations is an everyday struggle that goes beyond protests at airports. Even after refugees have crossed the external borders, they continue to face discrimination and violence. Through isolation in camps, through restrictions on residence, limitations on family reunification, through the payment card, and through the daily fear of deportation,” says Salah from We’ll Come United.

“With our large and vocal protest here today at Frankfurt Airport, we are making it clear that we refuse to accept airports as the scenes of human rights violations.”