German intelligence gave status to 'informer' asylum seekers, report says

According to a report by the German magazine Der Spiegel, Germany's external Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst), BND, facilitated legal settlement processes for asylum seekers in return for sharing information.

The BND and the country's internal spy agency, Constitution Protection Agency, reached 850 asylum seekers between the years of 2000 and 2013 to get intelligence information, report said.

Der Spiegel based its report on the answers given by the government to Left Party's proposed questions on the issue.

The investigation said that the asylum seekers were granted 'protection' in return for the information they shared with intelligence services.

Under normal circumstances, protection status is given to those reaching the country with a fear of death or prosecution for racial, religious, and political reasons in their home countries if they were to be reported back.

The interviews with refugees were made by the BND's Investigation Department's agents, report added.

Many believe that the asylum seeking applicants agreed to provide information to the intelligence services because of its convenience during legal proceedings.

These units were closed by the government in June 2014, however, BND continues to listen to information provided by refugees 'on a voluntary basis.'

The activities of intelligence services drew criticism from the opposition parties in Germany. Left Party lawmaker Martin Renner said: "If the intelligence services are putting pressure on asylum seekers, it is a disgraceful case for moral terms."