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| Germany’s interior minister urged to resign after death of asylum seeker | Germany’s interior minister urged to resign after death of asylum seeker |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Germany’s interior minister has come under pressure to resign after one of 69 Afghans deported last week, as part of a tougher line on migration, was reported to have killed himself on his return home. | Germany’s interior minister has come under pressure to resign after one of 69 Afghans deported last week, as part of a tougher line on migration, was reported to have killed himself on his return home. |
| The man was sent back as the minister, Horst Seehofer, fought a campaign within chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition to press for tighter restrictions on migrants. | The man was sent back as the minister, Horst Seehofer, fought a campaign within chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition to press for tighter restrictions on migrants. |
| Seehofer’s “migration masterplan”, which he launched on Tuesday and which would toughen border and immigration controls, is at odds with the open-doors policy Merkel announced at the height of the 2015 refugee crisis. | Seehofer’s “migration masterplan”, which he launched on Tuesday and which would toughen border and immigration controls, is at odds with the open-doors policy Merkel announced at the height of the 2015 refugee crisis. |
| After Seehofer claimed credit for an increase in the pace of deportations of rejected asylum seekers, exulting that 69 Afghans had left on his 69th birthday, an interior ministry official on Wednesday announced the suicide of one of them. | After Seehofer claimed credit for an increase in the pace of deportations of rejected asylum seekers, exulting that 69 Afghans had left on his 69th birthday, an interior ministry official on Wednesday announced the suicide of one of them. |
| “We received confirmation from the Afghan authorities this morning that one of passengers on the repatriation flight was found dead in accommodation in Kabul,” the official told journalists. | “We received confirmation from the Afghan authorities this morning that one of passengers on the repatriation flight was found dead in accommodation in Kabul,” the official told journalists. |
| German interior minister pulls out of Merkel's integration summit | German interior minister pulls out of Merkel's integration summit |
| “According to the Afghan authorities, it was a suicide,” the official added. | “According to the Afghan authorities, it was a suicide,” the official added. |
| There was no immediate comment from Seehofer, who has repeatedly clashed with Merkel and their Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners in his drive to raise his Christian Social Union’s party profile and head off a far-right challenge in a regional election. | There was no immediate comment from Seehofer, who has repeatedly clashed with Merkel and their Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners in his drive to raise his Christian Social Union’s party profile and head off a far-right challenge in a regional election. |
| But Gyde Jensen, a lawmaker for the liberal Free Democrats and head of the parliamentary human rights committee, demanded Seehofer’s dismissal. | But Gyde Jensen, a lawmaker for the liberal Free Democrats and head of the parliamentary human rights committee, demanded Seehofer’s dismissal. |
| “Anyone who celebrates 69 deportations for his 69th birthday is in the wrong job,” she said in a statement. “How many more derailments does the coalition need to dismiss the interior minister ... The limit has been reached.” | “Anyone who celebrates 69 deportations for his 69th birthday is in the wrong job,” she said in a statement. “How many more derailments does the coalition need to dismiss the interior minister ... The limit has been reached.” |
| Afghanistan said the 23-year-old failed asylum seeker had lived in Germany for eight years and was a minor when he came to the country. | Afghanistan said the 23-year-old failed asylum seeker had lived in Germany for eight years and was a minor when he came to the country. |
| Some 17 years after the Taliban were ousted by a US-led campaign, following the September 11 attacks on the United States, security is fragile across much of Afghanistan and hundreds of civilians have been killed in attacks this year in the capital Kabul, as well as other cities. | Some 17 years after the Taliban were ousted by a US-led campaign, following the September 11 attacks on the United States, security is fragile across much of Afghanistan and hundreds of civilians have been killed in attacks this year in the capital Kabul, as well as other cities. |
| Last year, after a bombing in the Afghan capital of Kabul killed at least 90 people, Merkel said Germany would only deport criminals and people it considers a threat to Afghanistan. | Last year, after a bombing in the Afghan capital of Kabul killed at least 90 people, Merkel said Germany would only deport criminals and people it considers a threat to Afghanistan. |
| But Germany has recently abandoned those restrictions, based on a new assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan, the interior ministry said. | But Germany has recently abandoned those restrictions, based on a new assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan, the interior ministry said. |
| Politicians from all parties, apart from Merkel’s and Seehofer’s conservative alliance and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), who Seehofer is trying to outflank in the Bavarian regional vote, called for his resignation. | Politicians from all parties, apart from Merkel’s and Seehofer’s conservative alliance and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), who Seehofer is trying to outflank in the Bavarian regional vote, called for his resignation. |
| “His resignation is overdue. Hello coalition?!?” tweeted lawmaker Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD’s youth wing. | “His resignation is overdue. Hello coalition?!?” tweeted lawmaker Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD’s youth wing. |
| Refugee rights organisation Pro Asyl said 51 of the 69 deportees were booked on to the flight by the government of Bavaria, home to Seehofer’s CSU – the sister party of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). | Refugee rights organisation Pro Asyl said 51 of the 69 deportees were booked on to the flight by the government of Bavaria, home to Seehofer’s CSU – the sister party of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). |
| Seehofer is fighting to hang on to the CSU chairmanship as the party sinks in the polls, 10 years after he became leader. Bavarian premier Markus Söder is his main rival. | Seehofer is fighting to hang on to the CSU chairmanship as the party sinks in the polls, 10 years after he became leader. Bavarian premier Markus Söder is his main rival. |
| Some in the CSU see robust language as an effective way of challenging the AfD, which is gaining on the CSU in polls ahead of October’s vote for a new Bavarian parliament. | Some in the CSU see robust language as an effective way of challenging the AfD, which is gaining on the CSU in polls ahead of October’s vote for a new Bavarian parliament. |
| In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. | In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. |
| Germany | Germany |
| Immigration and asylum | Immigration and asylum |
| Refugees | Refugees |
| Angela Merkel | Angela Merkel |
| Afghanistan | Afghanistan |
| news | news |
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