Friedrich Merz: Deportation of Criminals to Syria Now on the Table
ARK News.. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stressed the need to hold accountable anyone who violates Germany’s laws and values, declaring that deporting convicted criminals to Syria is now a policy option under discussion.
His remarks follow a widely reported case of group sexual harassment targeting eight underage girls at a public swimming pool in Gelnhausen, Hesse. Four Syrian men stand accused in the incident. Merz emphasized that the issue is not about any single nationality but about "a fundamental lack of respect for women and the rule of law."
He called for tough prosecutions and the detention of offenders in deportation facilities pending removal to their countries of origin.
Although Syria is currently designated an “unsafe country for deportations,” Merz signaled a willingness to reconsider this classification. “Given the current situation, we can consider deportations to Syria, which needs people to help rebuild it,” he said.
According to police, the victims—aged between 11 and 16—were subjected to physical assaults on June 22 at a local pool. Prosecutors in Offenbach have launched an investigation into charges of sexual harassment against the suspects, who are aged between 18 and 28.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Germany and renewed calls for tougher deportation policies. Hesse’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck also demanded that the suspects be deported to Syria, urging a comprehensive review of the country’s immigration policy.
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