Germany has deported a convicted criminal to Syria for the first time since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Tuesday.

The man was handed over to Syrian authorities in Damascus on Tuesday morning. According to the ministry, he had previously served a prison sentence in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia for particularly serious crimes, including robbery, assault, and extortion.

The deportation follows a new agreement between Berlin and Damascus that allows for the regular removal of convicted criminals and individuals deemed security risks. German officials said the arrangement marks a significant shift in policy after years of suspended deportations due to the conflict in Syria.

On the same day, Germany also deported another convicted offender to Afghanistan. The Afghan national had served time in Bavaria for crimes including intentional bodily harm. The Interior Ministry said this was the second deportation of an Afghan criminal within a week.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the conservative Christian Social Union said the government was acting in the public interest. “Our society has a legitimate interest in criminals leaving our country,” he said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to control, consistency, and clear consequences.

Human rights organizations have criticized Germany’s renewed deportations to Syria and Afghanistan, citing ongoing instability and persistent reports of human rights abuses in both countries.

Despite the criticism, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative-led government has made the resumption of deportations to Syria a priority since the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December last year.