By Ute Kaiser
In mid-August 2021, the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. Since then, the humanitarian situation in the country has deteriorated. In addition, the rights of girls and women have worsened dramatically. As a result, more and more Afghan women are applying for asylum in Germany.
“The current calm picture of Afghanistan is deceptive and masks the prevailing uncertainty, fear, and hardship among the population,” said Parvina Tadjibaeva in a press release from Caritas International. Tadjibaeva heads the aid organization’s office in the capital Kabul.
Afghan women have no rights
Girls and women in Afghanistan are largely excluded from education. Women who do not adhere to the strict dress code are arrested. There are more and more forced marriages and violence against women. In addition, their access to health care and humanitarian aid is “severely restricted,” according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in its 2024 country report.
Applications have more than doubled
Due to the catastrophic situation in the country, more and more Afghan women are applying for asylum in Germany. The number rose sharply in July 2025 to a total of 3,104 applications (June: 1,334 applications). Of these, 2,393 were follow-up applications from Afghans who have been living in Germany for some time (June: 791). This is according to a response from the Federal Ministry for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) to an inquiry from tuenews INTERNATIONAL. The increase in follow-up applications was likely triggered by a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in October 2024.
“Exceptionally high level of protection”
In simple terms, according to the ECJ ruling, gender and nationality are sufficient grounds for asylum applications from women from Afghanistan. The discriminatory measures and laws enacted by the Taliban regime do not protect their human dignity. An individual assessment is no longer necessary. According to the BAMF’s response, the current decision-making practice “leads to an exceptionally high level of protection” for girls and women from Afghanistan. Individual circumstances are also taken into account in the assessment.
15 million threatened by hunger
Caritas warns urgently against “losing sight” of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The deportation of around two million people from Pakistan and Iran has “further exacerbated” the situation in the country. Around half of the population, some 23 million people, are dependent on support, and 15 million of them are “threatened by existential hunger.” Tadjibaeva warns that the necessary international aid will be sorely felt by the people of Afghanistan with the loss of USAID and uncertainty about German aid funds. This must be prevented, demands the head of the Caritas office in Kabul.
To the press release from Caritas International: Caritas International | Press release: Afghanistan
To the BAMF country report: BAMF | Country report Afghanistan (PDF)
Pro Asyl on the ECJ ruling: Pro Asyl | ECJ ruling for Afghan women
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