Germany’s far-right opposition has accused officials of widening the pool of Afghans flown out of Kabul after the Taliban takeover beyond those who worked as military interpreters.
Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, used an election debate to raise fears that the airlift could become a “gateway for asylum abuse”.
About 3,700 Afghans were flown out of Kabul by the German military, including but not limited to people who helped Nato troops during their 20-year mission.
Although some have criticised Berlin for not moving faster to retrieve its personnel, Ms Weidel suggested too many people had been rescued.
“What we have established is that the definition of local personnel has been gradually loosened,” she said.
“We have a duty to bring back the local personnel who helped our army on the ground – but only them. It cannot become a gateway for asylum abuse.”
Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has spoken of tens of thousands of Afghan staff and their families being left behind after the airlift.
Ms Weidel highlighted government figures from 2018 that referred to only 576 Afghan staff, although this referred to the number employed at that point.
“We have to help Afghan refugees on the ground and not fly them here. That’s not solving any problems,” she said.
The AfD won its first seats in parliament four years ago amid a backlash against Germany’s handling of the refugee crisis in 2015. Ministers have promised to avoid a repeat of such events.
Afghan refugee crisis dominates election discourse
The fallout from Afghanistan has pushed refugee issues to the top of the agenda weeks before Germany’s general election.
Germany began taking in Afghan staff before the fall of Kabul, but was criticised for an overly bureaucratic process that distinguished between direct army employees and others who worked for aid agencies.
Ms Weidel spoke at an undercard debate on Monday between four smaller parties who are not bidding for the chancellorship.
The three candidates for the top job – Armin Laschet, Olaf Scholz and Annalena Baerbock – held their second prime-time debate on Sunday. Mr Scholz’s Social Democrats lead in the polls.
Alexander Dobrindt, speaking for the sister party of Mr Laschet’s conservatives, defended the security checks on Afghans coming to Germany.
A handful of Afghans were flagged by the security services after arriving with fake documents or returning to Germany after previously being deported.
Mr Dobrindt said it had been right to carry out security checks in Germany rather than in the chaos of Kabul’s airport.
“I think everyone still has in their heads those depressing scenes that we saw at the airport in Kabul,” he said.
“It was decided that we should fly as many people out as possible out of this hell in Kabul … so these checks took place in other places, including in Germany.”
He said the suspects had been detained and would be deported as soon as possible.
Germany hopes to persuade the Taliban to allow safe passage for people who still want to flee Afghanistan.
The first departure of a foreign commercial flight from Kabul since the military airlift ended took place on Monday. It raised hopes for those trying to leave. Others have fled for Afghanistan's borders.
The five pillars of Islam
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The%20specs
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Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
Sour%20Grapes
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