The threatened deportation of refugee Zana Sili has been stopped for the time being. An urgent application by his lawyer for a review of his case by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) was successful, according to the Kurdish activist's support group. The court order states that until a decision is made on the man's application for asylum, the competent authority should refrain from "measures to terminate his stay".

The case of Zana Sili caused a stir in the Kurdish community. On Wednesday morning, the police arrested the Kurd, who is politically persecuted in Turkey, in Kassel and took him directly to Frankfurt airport. Apparently, the reason for the deportation was that he had not kept appointments with the foreign office in Augsburg. However, Sili had moved to Kassel with the permission of the Augsburg office in order to pursue a full-time job as a cook. However, the letters from Augsburg did not reach him there.

The planned deportation was only stopped at Frankfurt Airport and Sili was released from custody. In addition to numerous supporters, the Left Party also spoke out against Sili's deportation. Torsten Felstehausen, parliamentary director and spokesperson on domestic policy for the Left Party in the Hessian state parliament, called on the government to take immediate action: "It is scandalous to make an official failure the basis for a deportation. The deportation must be urgently suspended until the urgent application is processed and Zana Sili released from custody."

Felstehausen remarked that the goal must be to prevent Sili's deportation to Turkey, where he would face political persecution. According to human rights organisations, mistreatment and torture in Turkish police stations and prisons are still unfortunately not exceptions, he stated.