The Local Germany

The refugee debate: just how ‘open’ are Germany’s borders?

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:25:57 +0200

In the current government crisis over migration policy the term “open borders” is thrown about all the time. Anyone who drives to Austria though, knows that there is no physical border there - so what is the debate really about?

Majority of Germans worried about refugees

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 12:40:25 +0200

Increased numbers of refugees are giving Germans second thoughts about their support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming policies, with more than half now saying they are concerned about the new arrivals in the latest polling.

EU probes Germany over asylum violations

Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:27:17 +0200

The European Commission said on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into 19 countries for violations of asylum laws, including Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Spain.

Bavaria to reform asylum after hunger-strike

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 10:00:00 +0200

Bavaria is to make sweeping changes to how it deals with asylum applicants, the online edition of Der Spiegel reported Tuesday, two days after police cleared a camp of 50 hunger-strikers, many of whom were in a critical condition.

Muslims call for 'denazification' of state

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:41:00 +0100

An umbrella organisation representing Muslims in Germany has called for a "denazification" of German state authorities, and demanded they refrain from using the terms "Islamism" and "Islamist" to describe radical Muslims.

Nearly half of forced marriage brides German

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:23:00 +0100

Nearly half of those in forced marriages or in danger of such in Germany are German citizens, while around a third are minors, according to the most detailed study of the practice to date.

Bishop says Europe must take refugees

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 11:36:00 +0200

Germany and Europe should open their doors to refugees fleeing North African unrest and instability rather than barricading the borders, according to the Evangelical Bishop of Central Germany, Ilse Junkermann.

German-Turkish comedy looks at the lighter side of immigration

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:17:00 +0100

"Almanya," a Turkish-German film debuting at the Berlinale, has received rave reviews for its humorous and sensitive take on immigration and integration. The Local spoke with the sisters behind the movie about learning to live and laugh together.

High court orders retrial in asylum-seeker death

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:41:00 +0100

The case of an asylum seeker from Sierra Leone who burned to death in a Dessau jail cell must be retried, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled on Thursday – the five-year anniversary of his death.

The FDP’s Serkan Tören: ‘I didn’t want to leave the choices to others’

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:40:00 +0200

With the September 27 election approaching, The Local's continues its series of interviews with candidates for parliament with non-German backgrounds. Serkan Tören is a Turkish-born lawyer in Hamburg running for a seat in Bundestag for the Free Democrats.

Amount of naturalised citizens plunges dramatically

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:28:00 +0200

The number of immigrants who took the plunge and became naturalised German citizens in 2008 fell dramatically, according to government statistics released Friday.