Criticism of Germany for Failing to Evacuate Human Rights Activists

Human Rights Watch has criticized Germany for failing to evacuate human rights activists and local employees facing danger in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s governance in the country has increased pressure on these individuals.

Germany has been criticized by Human Rights Watch for its handling of Afghan civilians following a disastrous withdrawal. The organization stated in its annual report, “Germany largely overlooked the urgent evacuation needs of human rights activists, journalists, and local employees prior to the international forces’ withdrawal.”

The Human Rights Watch report notes that parts of the German government delegated the evacuation process from Afghanistan to each other, misjudged the situation, and consequently put many Afghans at risk.

Following the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, some countries, including Germany, relocated a number of human rights activists and local employees to their territories. However, Human Rights Watch says Germany failed to evacuate most of them, leaving activists and local workers in danger under Taliban rule.

The report mentioned that when the German Ministry of Defense withdrew from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, it left behind thousands of local employees and others who were at risk. Some of these individuals were only relocated after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.