Church asylum has seen a sharp rise in 2024, with 2,386 recorded cases according to a report by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Muslim and followers of other religions are taking advantage of Christian churches by seeking refuge in local places of worship, to avoid deportation.
One asylum caseworker shared, “You can’t get to these people anymore. Legally mandated deportations are delayed for months or fail entirely.”
A recent case involving three Somali asylum seekers has brought renewed attention to the issue. After entering Germany through Poland and successfully challenging their deportation, the trio was taken in by a Protestant church. Berlin’s Protestant bishop Christian Stäblein called the act “a service to society, which is thereby reminded of its foundation of mercy.”
In Germany, churches have long offered temporary sanctuary to refugees as a humanitarian gesture, though the practice has no legal standing. Authorities tolerate it as part of the country’s Christian and ethical values. The aim is to delay deportation, allowing time for re-evaluation or legal appeal.
