German youth organizations call for ban on deportations to Syria

German youth organizations are calling on the government to do more for the Kurds in northern Syria after weeks of intense fighting.

"We expect the German government to take a clear stand and publicly condemn the attacks on Kurdish areas," said the open letter, which was made available to dpa in Berlin on Saturday.

"It is urgently necessary to exert diplomatic pressure on the government in Damascus," the letter continued. "The German government must use this leverage against Damascus and Turkey to stop the fighting, achieve a genuine and verifiable ceasefire, and protect the entire civilian population."

The signatories include the youth wings of the Social Democratic Party and Greens and several other organizations.

They further demanded that the German government ensure humanitarian aid and commit to protecting minorities, as well as banning deportations to Syria.

The co-leader of the Green Youth, Henriette Held, said: "It cannot be that [German Chancellor] Friedrich Merz only comments on the situation in Syria when it comes to who he can deport."

The Syrian transitional government in Damascus and the Kurdish leadership agreed in March 2025 to integrate Kurdish institutions. However, the agreement was never implemented.

Damascus took military action in recent weeks, leading to intense clashes in northern Syria.

A ceasefire agreed on Tuesday expires on Saturday evening. The Kurdish side said it hoped for an extension of the US-mediated talks in order to reach an agreement with Damascus.