Pupil at primary school insists on the return of their fellow students from Iraq
German Family Deported to Iraq Despite Court Ruling
A Yazidi family, who had been living in the German town of Lychen for three years, was deported back to Iraq despite a court suspending their deportation. The incident, which occurred in the morning, was followed by a court ruling in the afternoon that granted an urgent appeal suspending the deportation.
The family, consisting of six members including four minors, had initially been denied international protection by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in 2023. They filed a lawsuit against this decision and also filed an emergency appeal in 2025, which gained court approval shortly after the deportation flight had taken off.
Unfortunately, German authorities did not have access to the court’s suspension ruling until after the family had landed in Iraq. Brandenburg’s interior minister acknowledged the mistake, stating that the court decision reached authorities retroactively and was unavailable to prevent the deportation.
The deportation flight carried 43 Iraqi nationals, including this Yazidi family. The potential risk to Yazidis in Iraq remains high, as their home region Sinjar is still devastated and insecure, with lingering IS militant activity and a tense security situation.
Following the deportation, efforts are underway to facilitate the family’s return to Germany. Brandenburg’s interior ministry, together with federal authorities, has been directed to explore bringing the family back to Germany, contingent on the court’s final decision and the federal government providing the necessary travel documents.
Politicians from various German parties, including Social Democrats, Greens, and the Left, are also calling for the family’s return. This case highlights the challenges in coordinating deportations amid ongoing legal proceedings and reinforces concerns about deporting Yazidis to insecure areas in Iraq.
Uwe Lorenz, a city councilor for the CDU, had personal contact with the family and had accompanied their eleven-year-old son in a school project about the history of Lychen after World War II. He expressed his disappointment about the family's deportation, stating it was deeply shocking that a child who engaged so much against forgetting and for understanding had become a victim of state harshness.
Emil, a Lychen primary school student, had initiated an online petition on change.org titled "Bring our classmate back from Iraq". As of Friday afternoon, over 1140 people had signed the petition. The incident was reported by the Uckermark Kurier.
In summary, the family’s deportation occurred due to timing issues related to late receipt of a court suspension order, and current efforts focus on facilitating their return to Germany pending legal and bureaucratic resolution.
- Education-and-self-development: The eleven-year-old son of the Yazidi family, who was deported back to Iraq, had been actively involved in a school project about the history of Lychen after World War II, showcasing his commitment to education and self-development.
- Politics: Following the deportation of the Yazidi family, politicians from various German parties, including Social Democrats, Greens, and the Left, have called for the family's return, reiterating concerns about the challenges in coordinating deportations amid ongoing legal proceedings and the potential risks for Yazidis in Iraq.
