German Court Rules Deportations to Greece Are Lawful, Raising Concerns Among Refugee Advocates

Germany’s highest administrative court has ruled that the deportation of two asylum seekers to Greece is lawful, stating that such returns do not breach human rights standards.

The decision has prompted concern among refugee support organisations in both Germany and Greece, who warn that Greece fails to provide adequate support even to those granted refugee status.

The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled on Wednesday that two men – one a 34-year-old from northern Gaza of unclear nationality, and the other a 32-year-old Somali national – could be deported to Greece, where they had previously been granted protection. Both had subsequently applied for asylum in Germany, but their claims were rejected, with a regional court in the state of Hesse upholding the decision.

Under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation, asylum seekers must pursue their asylum applications in the first EU member state in which they arrive – in this case, Greece.

While the court acknowledged significant shortcomings in Greece’s asylum system, it concluded that the men – both young, single and able-bodied – would not face inhumane or degrading conditions upon return. “It cannot be expected with any significant probability that able-bodied, healthy, and single young male beneficiaries of protection returning to Greece will find themselves in extreme material hardship,” the ruling stated.

The judges conceded that access to state support in Greece is often delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles, but insisted that the returnees would likely be able to secure at least temporary accommodation and basic sanitary facilities, provided by municipalities or non-governmental organisations.

Presiding judge Robert Keller said the legal benchmark was whether returnees had access to “bread, bed, and soap.” “That’s not much, we know that. It’s a tough benchmark,” he added.

The ruling follows a similar decision by Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe last week, which dismissed a complaint by another refugee seeking to block deportation to Greece. The constitutional judges concluded that, despite limitations, recognised refugees are still able to live with dignity in Greece.

However, refugee advocacy group Pro Asyl condemned the decision, arguing that recognised refugees in Greece frequently end up homeless and without access to basic services. In a report published on Friday, the organisation said many face extreme poverty and are left to fend for themselves in a system that provides no meaningful support.

“Recognition on paper doesn’t guarantee real protection,” Pro Asyl said.

The ruling comes amid ongoing tensions within the EU over the distribution of asylum responsibilities, and is likely to be of particular concern in Greece, where migration infrastructure continues to face significant strain.

Source: dw.com