Germany is home to over 47,000 Lebanese nationals who are closely following the developments in the Middle East with a sense of fear. Shahed Naji, a Lebanese national living in Berlin for nearly a decade, has been monitoring the situation in his home country closely. The recent attacks from Israel have escalated the crisis, leading many Lebanese nationals, including Naji’s nephew, Yahya, to consider leaving Lebanon for safety reasons. The German government recently allowed Israeli visitors to stay temporarily without requiring a residence permit, but no such provisions exist for Lebanese citizens, despite the significant Lebanese population in the country. The tightening of migration policies in Germany, as seen in the success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in recent elections, has raised concerns for Lebanese nationals seeking safety in the country.
The recent attacks from Israel in Lebanon have sparked panic among Lebanese nationals living in Germany. Shahed Naji, who has been residing in Berlin for nearly a decade, shares his daily routine of waking up in the middle of the night to check the news from his home country. The proximity of the attacks to his family’s hometown in the north of Beirut has heightened his concerns. His nephew, Yahya, who was studying computer science in Beirut, has also decided to flee to the north for safety reasons. The escalating attacks have instilled a sense of fear among the Lebanese community in Germany, with many considering leaving Lebanon for their own safety. The lack of provisions for Lebanese citizens in Germany’s migration policies, coupled with the tightening stance on migration, has raised concerns about the possibility of seeking asylum for those escaping conflict in Lebanon.
The German government’s decision to allow Israeli visitors to stay temporarily without requiring a residence permit has not been extended to Lebanese nationals. Despite the significant Lebanese population in Germany, current regulations do not provide the same provisions for Lebanese citizens seeking safety in the country. The recent success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in state elections has led to concerns about the tightening of migration policies in Germany. The AfD’s campaign to increase deportations and impose stricter controls on migration has raised concerns among the Lebanese community in Germany. The lack of provisions for Lebanese citizens in the face of escalating conflict in the Middle East has further exacerbated fears among the Lebanese community in Germany.
The current political atmosphere in Germany, marked by the success of the far-right AfD party in state elections, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the prospects of asylum for Lebanese nationals fleeing conflict in the Middle East. Shahed Naji expresses concerns about the ability to bring his family to safety in Germany, given the current policies and election results. The lack of provisions for Lebanese citizens in Germany’s migration policies, along with the tightening controls on migration, have raised concerns about the potential for Lebanese nationals to seek asylum in the country. The uncertainty surrounding the political climate in Germany has left many Lebanese nationals living in the country feeling anxious about the safety of their families back in Lebanon.
The German government’s decision to allow Israeli visitors to stay temporarily without requiring a residence permit highlights the disparities in treatment between Israeli and Lebanese citizens in Germany. While Israeli visitors have been granted special provisions in light of the recent attacks, no such measures exist for Lebanese citizens. The lack of provisions for Lebanese citizens, despite the significant Lebanese population in Germany, raises questions about the country’s approach to supporting those fleeing conflict in the Middle East. The success of the far-right AfD party in state elections has further compounded concerns about the possibility of seeking asylum in Germany for Lebanese nationals.
In conclusion, the escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, has raised concerns among the Lebanese community in Germany. The lack of provisions for Lebanese citizens in Germany’s migration policies, coupled with the tightening stance on migration in light of the far-right AfD party’s success, has created a sense of uncertainty for those seeking safety in the country. The disparity in treatment between Israeli and Lebanese citizens in Germany, as seen in the decision to allow Israeli visitors to stay temporarily without requiring a residence permit, has further heightened concerns among the Lebanese community. The political atmosphere in Germany has left many Lebanese nationals living in the country feeling anxious about the safety of their families back in Lebanon, and uncertain about the prospects of seeking asylum in Germany.
