Failed Deportation From Bremen Church Sparks National Debate on Kirchenasyl

A 25-year-old Somali man's deportation attempt was blocked by 100 protesters, reigniting tensions over the sanctity of church asylum in Germany.

Authorities attempted to deport a Somali man from a Bremen church under the Dublin Regulation, which stipulates Finland is responsible for his asylum claim.
Approximately 100 individuals, including church members and activists, peacefully prevented the deportation during a late-night police operation.
The Interior Senator of Bremen, Ulrich Mäurer, criticized the church for defying federal asylum procedures, calling for a review of state-church agreements on Kirchenasyl.
Critics, including the Greens and Left parties, condemned the breach of church asylum as a violation of humanitarian principles and religious sanctity.
This incident marks the first attempt in Bremen to forcibly end Kirchenasyl, reflecting a growing trend across Germany to challenge the practice.