After Solingen Stabbings Scholz Pledges Swift Deportations and Stricter Laws

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has vowed to take decisive action following a tragic stabbing incident in Solingen that left three people dead. The attack, allegedly perpetrated by a Syrian asylum seeker, has reignited the country's ongoing debate over migration and the policies surrounding it. Scholz made his intentions clear during a visit to the western town of Solingen, where the attack occurred, stating that irregular migration into Germany "must go down."

 

He underscored the gravity of the situation by labeling the incident as an act of terrorism, saying, "This was terrorism, terrorism against us all." Scholz's remarks reflect the growing political pressure in Germany to address issues related to migration and public safety. He emphasized the need for his government to do "everything we can to ensure that those who cannot and should not stay here in Germany are repatriated and deported."

 

He also promised that deportations would be expedited if necessary to prevent such tragedies in the future. In addition to accelerating deportations, Scholz pledged to tighten laws on weapons ownership "very quickly," signaling a comprehensive approach to enhancing security.

 

The political ramifications of the Solingen stabbings were immediate and far-reaching. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Issa Al H., a Syrian refugee, has been linked to the terror organization Islamic State. This connection has fueled an already heated debate on migration in Germany. Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz quickly called for an end to accepting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan, arguing that stricter border controls were necessary. His position, while controversial, reflects a growing sentiment among certain political factions in Germany that the country needs to reevaluate its immigration policies.

 

Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), took an even more extreme stance, advocating for a complete halt to all migration. The AfD has long been critical of Germany's immigration policies, and Weidel's call for a total stop to migration represents the party's most extreme position yet. However, experts caution that such measures are neither feasible nor compatible with German and European Union law, which requires member states to honor their legal and humanitarian commitments to those fleeing persecution.

 

Despite the intense political pressure, Scholz's governing center-left SPD party has reiterated Germany's commitment to helping those in need. The party maintains that Germany must uphold its obligations to asylum seekers while also ensuring that those who pose a threat to public safety are deported. The government has pledged to deport migrants who have committed serious crimes or whose asylum applications have been rejected.

 

The Solingen suspect's case has raised questions about the effectiveness of Germany's deportation system. Issa Al H. arrived in Germany in 2022 as a Syrian refugee, a group that typically has a strong chance of being granted asylum. However, his application was rejected, and he was ordered to be deported to Bulgaria, the country where he had initially registered for asylum. Despite this order, authorities were unable to locate him for deportation, allowing him to remain in Germany. The failure to deport him has sparked a heated debate over who was responsible for the oversight.

 

Germany's deportation policies are complicated by international law and humanitarian concerns. The country generally does not deport people to unsafe countries or war zones, such as Syria or Afghanistan. Doing so would require negotiations with regimes like the Taliban in Afghanistan, a prospect that is both politically and practically challenging. Nevertheless, there are increasing calls within Germany to revisit these policies in light of recent events.

 

The ongoing debate over migration has been a contentious issue in Germany for years. Local councils frequently report that their budgets are strained by the influx of refugees, and there are ongoing discussions about how to improve the asylum process. Some advocates argue that allowing refugees to work sooner would help them integrate more effectively into German society, thereby reducing the strain on public resources. Despite these challenges, Germany has generally managed to cope well with the large numbers of refugees it takes in each year.

 

In 2023 alone, over 350,000 people applied for asylum in Germany. Additionally, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, around 1.2 million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Germany. These numbers highlight the country's significant role in providing sanctuary to those fleeing conflict and persecution. Despite this large influx, terror attacks linked to asylum seekers in Germany are relatively rare. The last major incident occurred in 2016 when an Islamist extremist drove a lorry into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.

 

However, the recent attack in Solingen is likely to have a substantial political impact. With key regional elections approaching in Saxony and Thuringia, the AfD is already using the attack as a rallying point for its campaign. The party, which has gained traction in parts of eastern Germany, is hoping to capitalize on public fear and dissatisfaction with current immigration policies. Within hours of the stabbing, the AfD posted a video on social media featuring the party's regional leader in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, with the caption "Höcke or Solingen," a stark and provocative message intended to resonate with voters.

 

The political landscape in Germany is likely to shift as the country grapples with the implications of the Solingen attack. While Scholz's government is committed to upholding Germany's humanitarian obligations, it also faces mounting pressure to enhance security and control over migration. The balance between these competing priorities will shape Germany's policies in the coming months and could have lasting effects on the nation's approach to immigration and public safety.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-08-27

 

 

 

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[simple1]

Many Western country government need to further resource and accelerate their efforts for government to government agreements for deportations as well as onshore processing of asylum claims.

[Homburg]

Just now, simple1 said:

Many Western country government need to further resource and accelerate their efforts for government to government agreements for deportations as well as onshore processing of asylum claims.

I fear that it is far too little and far too late. Western Europe is lost.

[simple1]

28 minutes ago, Homburg said:

I fear that it is far too little and far too late. Western Europe is lost.

 

Disagree. EU countries have more than sufficient capabilities to address Islamist terror. Might require some tough decisions, but will eventuate. recent example is taking on IS.

Edited August 27 by simple1

[koolkarl]

Even better not to let them in, in the first place.  For the ones already there, if such a crime is committed, the death penalty and not legal BS for years on end paid for by taxpayers.

[JonnyF]

He sounds like Yvette Cooper. Trying to regain some credibility when all the virtue signalling comes home to roost. Maybe he could go full Starmer and start jailing people who question the policy of allowing undocumented criminals and terrorists into the country? 

 

Shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted.

 

A day late and a dollar short. 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, koolkarl said:

Even better not to let them in, in the first place.  For the ones already there, if such a crime is committed, the death penalty and not legal BS for years on end paid for by taxpayers.

 

Unfortunately the leftist do gooders already have lawyers in place to challenge any decision to deport people. 

 

So expect lots of taxpayers money to be wasted in the courts followed by one or two token deportations but no real change. 

 

Expect more incidents like this. 

[simple1]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Unfortunately the leftist do gooders already have lawyers in place to challenge any decision to deport people. 

 

So expect lots of taxpayers money to be wasted in the courts followed by one or two token deportations but no real change. 

 

Expect more incidents like this. 

 

Usual nonsense from the right of centre. In the first quarter of 2024 30,520 non EU citizens were deported. The numbers will increase as more government to government agreements are in-place.

 

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Returns_of_irregular_migrants_-_quarterly_statistics#:~:text=Among the EU countries%2C France,and Belgium (6 965).

 

Those convicted of criminal / terrorist offences must serve their time in prison prior to deportation or whole of life sentences for grievous offences.

[The Old Bull]

13 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Unfortunately the leftist do gooders already have lawyers in place to challenge any decision to deport people. 

 

So expect lots of taxpayers money to be wasted in the courts followed by one or two token deportations but no real change. 

 

Expect more incidents like this. 

You beat me to it. I was just about to post the same. Only most  lawyers are not left or right , just greedy.