As Germany ramps up deportations, a growing number of asylum seekers are turning to churches for protection in a last resort bid to have their plight recognized.
Church Asylum Requests Rise in Germany Amidst Growing Pressure for Deportations
In 2024, 2,386 people sought church asylum in Germany. However, the number of requests has risen significantly in many places as a result of increased pressure to deport. According to the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD), this increase is largely due to refugees seeking protection against threatened deportation.
Church asylum, also known as sanctuary or 'church refuge' , is a legal and historical concept where individuals can seek protection from persecution or prosecution by taking refuge in a place of worship.
This practice dates back to ancient times, with evidence found in the Old Testament and early Christian traditions.
In medieval Europe, churches provided shelter for those fleeing war, poverty, and injustice.
Today, church asylum remains a symbol of faith-based activism and human rights advocacy.
Growing Fear and Insecurity
The growing fear of deportation among people with unsecured residency is leading to a sharp increase in the number of requests for church protection, according to Dietlind Jochims, chairwoman of the German Ecumenical Committee on Church Asylum. This fear is fueled by the increasing pressure to deport asylum seekers.
Deportation is the forced removal of a person from their country of residence to their native country.
It can be initiated by governments, immigration authorities, or courts due to various reasons such as visa overstaying, criminal activity, or national security threats.
According to the United Nations, in 2020, over 3 million people were deported worldwide.
Deportation procedures vary across countries and often involve detention centers, court hearings, and appeals processes.
A Special Privilege with No Solid Basis in Law
Churches in Germany have given temporary shelter to refugees for decades under a special privilege that has no solid basis in law but is granted rather in accordance with the country’s Christian and humanitarian traditions. Refugees who receive shelter in churches can be temporarily protected from deportation to allow their asylum cases to be reevaluated and other judicial options to be sought.
Growing Criticism of Church Asylum
However, since political calls for stricter deportations have become louder, the situation for church asylum has worsened. Refugees who have taken shelter in churches are increasingly threatened by police evictions, with several cases occurring in the past few years. Church officials have also faced penalties for granting people asylum.
A Last Resort to Give Those Seeking Protection a Chance
Despite these challenges, the EKD has defended the practice of granting asylum in the church. As Protestant refugee commissioner Christian Stäblein noted, ‘asylum was granted in the church only after careful consideration and as a last resort to give those seeking protection a chance to have their plight recognized.‘
