Chancellor Angela Merkel agrees to deport refugees

(Baonghean.vn) - After the scandal of attacks on hundreds of women on New Year's Eve in Cologne that shocked the whole of Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out in support of tightening tough regulations allowing the deportation of convicted refugees, even those with suspended prison sentences.

At a press conference on January 9, referring to the New Year’s Eve robberies and sexual assaults in Cologne, Merkel said that if refugees commit crimes, they will have to face the consequences. This means that if refugees are sentenced to prison or even suspended, their residency rights will be revoked.

German Chancellor Merkel has voiced support for tightening tough rules allowing the deportation of convicted asylum seekers. AP photo

For Ms Merkel, it is important that when laws are inadequate, they be changed. She also believes that this is in the “interests of the vast majority of refugees”.

And a meeting led by the conservative CDU was held in Mainz to discuss more systematic deportations of migrants with asylum rights in Germany in case they violate the law. The CDU's deportation regulations were also discussed with other parties in the Berlin government.

Until now, German law stipulated that deportation of refugees would be carried out after they had been sentenced to three years in prison, but on condition that their life or health was not threatened in their home country.

Right-wing protest on January 9 in Cologne. Photo AFP

Back in Cologne, where a series of New Year’s Eve attacks took place, as of late January 9, Cologne police announced that the number of complaints related to violence in the city had reached 379. The suspects were mainly “refugees” or “illegal immigrants”.

Also on January 9, taking advantage of the scandal in Cologne, right-wing extremists in Germany organized a protest in the city. The protest quickly turned violent, forcing the police to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde)