The number of Turkish nationals deported from Germany has more than doubled over the past two years, making Turkey the top destination for deportations as Turkish migration to Germany has reached record levels, Deutsche Welle’s Turkish service reported Friday.
According to a response from the German federal government to a parliamentary inquiry by the opposition Left Party (Die Linke), 1,087 people were deported to Turkey in 2024, up from 515 in 2022. In the first quarter of 2025 alone Turkey again topped the list, receiving 502 of the 6,151 people deported from Germany. Those sent to Turkey in that period included 92 women and 83 children.
Turkish migration to Germany has also reached new highs. Between 2022 and 2024, 112,000 Turkish citizens moved to Germany, making Turkey the third-largest country of origin for migrants during that period. Ukraine ranked first with 843,000 arrivals, followed by Syria with 124,000, according to figures released Thursday by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office.
Civil society groups say the rise in deportations reflects a policy shift aimed at deterring asylum seekers.
“Turkish cases are handled with particular urgency, with decisions fast-tracked to ensure swift deportations in the hope of deterring others,” said Dündar Kelloğlu of Pro Asyl, a refugee advocacy organization.
Clara Bünger, a member of the German Bundestag from the Left Party, said deporting Turkish nationals under current conditions is “not only irresponsible but also a stance that endangers people’s lives,” citing the Turkish government’s treatment of political opponents.
The December 2024 case of Nusret Taş, a Turkish man deported from Germany, confirms those concerns.
Taş, 35, was arrested on December 20 upon his arrival in İstanbul, one day after being deported to Turkey following the rejection of his asylum claim by German authorities. He was charged with membership in a terrorist organization due to his links to the faith-based Gülen movement. The charges were based on his use of the ByLock encrypted messaging app, which Turkish authorities claim was used only by members of the group; testimony from other defendants; and financial activity linked to the movement, including an account at the now-defunct Bank Asya and funds transfers from a Gülen-affiliated company.
Taş was held for more than two months before receiving a suspended sentence. He benefited from Turkey’s “effective remorse” law, which grants reduced sentences to those who cooperate with judicial authorities.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been targeting followers of the Gülen movement, inspired by the late Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, since corruption investigations revealed in December 2013 implicated then-prime minister Erdoğan as well as some members of his family and inner circle.
Dismissing the investigations as a Gülenist coup and a conspiracy against his government, Erdoğan began to target the movement’s members. He designated the movement as a terrorist organization in May 2016 and intensified the crackdown on it following an abortive putsch in July of the same year that he accused Gülen of masterminding. The movement strongly denies involvement in the coup attempt or any terrorist activity.
Germany, which hosts the largest Turkish diaspora in Europe, has long remained a key destination for Turks fleeing political persecution or seeking better economic opportunities. Following the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, thousands of academics, journalists and civil servants sought asylum in Europe, particularly in Germany, amid a sweeping crackdown by the Turkish government.
The German Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ) newspaper reported last September about a deal between Turkey and Germany regarding the deportation of Turks whose asylum applications in Germany were rejected. According to FAZ, more than 13,500 Turks will gradually be deported to Turkey, though the Turkish government has denied these reports.