DW statement on the accusations in 'Business Insider'

After the Taliban seized power on August 15, 2021, DW worked hard to make sure that eleven freelance DW journalists, their families and the relatives of employees working in Bonn could be evacuated from Afghanistan. Over 300 people could be evacuated in agreement with the responsible authorities.

In August 2021, all employees from the Dari and Pashto services of DW were asked to submit the names of relatives in danger. The majority of the employees who were asked did so. The list was sent to the responsible authorities who then decided who could be evacuated.

Apart from the 11 freelance DW journalists and their families from several provinces across Afghanistan, relatives of DW employees in Bonn were also evacuated. The fact that some of these people included relatives of the Heads of the services was also made clear and communicated to DW management. Due to security concerns and to protect the privacy of those evacuated from Afghanistan, DW can neither publicize the names of those evacuated nor can DW make any statements as to the family relationship they may have with DW employees.

The responsible authorities were provided with all the information, including about their family relationships, needed to verify and decide on who is eligible for a residence permit for Germany.

The DW employee named by the “Business Insider” as being the owner of an Airbnb in Afghanistan is a German citizen and has been working at DW in Bonn since 2015. Prior to that, he was a multimedia reporter for the German armed forces in Afghanistan. In August 2021 he had already been living in Germany for several years and at the time of the takeover by the Taliban, he was in Afghanistan for personal reasons. Because he, too, was in danger, he was evacuated as an employee of DW.

DW Director General Peter Limbourg: "As soon as the Taliban took power, we immediately worked to bring to safety as many people as possible who are connected to DW. Luckily, thanks to a the many kinds of support we received, also from German authorities, we were successful. The majority of those evacuated were women and children. I would do it all again today."

The Business Insider article was published in German on October 27, 2024 (paywall).