Germany has accelerated its deportation practices. Most recently, a group of Iraqi nationals was deported under police escort aboard a plane operated by Turkish airline Freebird Airlines, which took off from Leipzig/Halle Airport. The Iraqis were placed on the aircraft under supervision and flown back to their country.
This development follows Germany’s deportation of 81 Afghans on 18 July. At that time, the United Nations (UN) expressed concern over the decision. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a clear warning against forced returns.
Volker Türk stated, “Returns to Afghanistan must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, and carried out in accordance with international law.”
According to UN data, nearly 1.9 million Afghan nationals have returned to their country from Iran and Pakistan over the past seven months. More than 1.5 million were deported from Iran alone, with approximately 60% of them being forcibly returned.
The aircraft used in the deportation belonged to Freebird Airlines, a Turkish leisure airline. Founded in 2000 and operating under Gözen Holding, Freebird maintains a fleet of 14 Airbus A320 aircraft registered in Turkey and Malta.
Freebird is authorised by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation to operate in three areas: passenger and cargo transportation, aircraft maintenance services, and aviation training.
