Tamils in Germany formed a human chain across over 50 cities yesterday, calling on German authorities to stop deportations of Tamil refugees and demanded accountability for the Tamil genocide. 

Banner reads: 'Human rights for Tamil Eelam'

Last year, Germany deported over 50 Tamil refugees to Sri Lanka despite the risk of persecution and torture that they face on the island. It is reported that during routine appointments at German immigration offices, refugees have often been arrested and taken into custody before being deported. 

Placards read: ''Our memorials are destroyed, our mourning is criminalised' and 'Structural genocide: lands are expropriated, cultures are destroyed'

In March 2021, German authorities conducted mass raids and detained as many as 100 Tamil refugees across the country. As well as raiding homes, authorities reportedly invited asylum seekers to renew their permits to remain but upon arrival at the building, they were detained by police officers, who confiscated their phones and prevented them from communicating with their relatives and loved ones. 

Germany carried out the deportations despite playing a key role in drafting and co-sponsoring a resolution on Sri Lanka last year at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). 

The resolution, "expresses serious concern at the trends emerging over the past year, which represent a clear early warning sign of a deteriorating situation of human rights in Sri Lanka, including... increased marginalization of persons belonging to the Tamil and Muslim communities... arbitrary detentions; alleged torture and other cruel, inhuman degrading treatment or punishment, and sexual and gender-based violence".