Somali Asylum Seeker's Forced Removal Blocked in Bremen Church Standoff

Hundreds rallied to prevent police from removing a man from church sanctuary, with a court now barring his deportation to Finland.

Police attempted to remove Ayub I., a Somali asylum seeker, from a Bremen church on December 2, but were met with peaceful resistance from around 100 supporters.
Over four days, the number of demonstrators grew to 600, with many staying overnight in solidarity to protect the church sanctuary.
The Administrative Court of Bremen ruled on December 9 that Ayub I. cannot be deported until his asylum case is fully resolved in court.
Bremen's migration office had sought to deport Ayub I. to Finland under the Dublin Regulation, as it was his first point of entry into the EU.
The case has intensified debates over the future of church sanctuary in Germany, with Bremen leading the nation in offering refuge to those facing deportation.