Increase in Afghan asylum applications following European Court of Justice decision
In August 2022, Afghanistan remained the main country of origin for asylum seekers in Germany, with 1,968 initial applications submitted, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf). This figure marked a decrease of 5.9% compared to July, with a total of 7,803 applications received.
The majority of these applications came from Afghan women. In August, 9,139 follow-up applications were submitted by Afghan women, while the number of initial applications from Afghan women in August is not provided for comparison with previous months. However, it's worth noting that if the rising trend continues, the number of first-time asylum applications from Afghan women in September 2025 would likely be lower than the previous months, as August 2025 saw a total of 7,803 first-time applications overall—a significant decrease from the previous year.
Syria ranked second in both July and August 2022, with 1,712 and 1,370 initial applications, respectively. Turkey followed closely, ranking third in July with 988 initial applications and third in August with 848 initial applications.
As of August 2022, a total of 104,012 asylum applications were received in Germany, with 78,246 being initial applications. The number of initial asylum applications from Afghans in the first eight months of 2022 totalled 14,865, while the number of follow-up applications reached 15,914.
The decrease in initial asylum applications from Afghanistan in August 2022 compared to the same month in 2021 (18,427 initial applications) may be attributed to the changing circumstances for asylum seekers, as well as the overall trend in decreasing asylum applications across Europe.
It's important to note that EU member states only need to consider the nationality and gender of Afghan women when examining individual asylum applications. In October 2021, the European Court of Justice ruled that certain discriminatory measures taken by the Taliban against women in Afghanistan constituted persecution. This ruling could potentially strengthen the cases of Afghan women seeking asylum in Europe.
Follow-up asylum applications in Germany are often made due to changes in legal situations, presentation of new evidence, or worsening conditions in the country of origin. As such, it's expected that the number of follow-up applications from Afghan women will continue to be high, despite the potential decrease in first-time applications.
In conclusion, while the number of initial asylum applications from Afghan women in Germany has been decreasing, the overall trend of high follow-up applications indicates that the need for support and protection for Afghan women seeking asylum remains significant.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Who is Palestine Action, the organization tied to numerous arrests within the UK?
- "Trump Criticizes EU's $3.5 billion fine on Google as Unjust, Threatens Additional Tariffs"
- Restructuring community adaptability amidst multiple concurrent crises
