20 European Countries Call for Forced Deportation of Undocumented Afghans
In a joint move, 19 European Union countries along with Norway have urged the European Commission to accelerate the process of deporting undocumented Afghan migrants residing in Europe — even if it involves forced returns and negotiations with the Taliban regime.
According to TOLOnews, these countries argue that the absence of a formal agreement with the Taliban government, which took power in 2021, has prevented the deportation of Afghans convicted of crimes in Europe. They claim this situation poses a security risk to their citizens and undermines public confidence in the asylum system.
The request comes despite the fact that the Taliban administration has not yet gained international recognition, and cooperating with it to carry out forced deportations is likely to face substantial human rights criticism. Numerous rights organizations have warned that sending Afghans back to a country where they face threats of torture, arbitrary detention, and political persecution amounts to a clear violation of international principles.
Many Afghans fled to Europe due to insecurity, repression, unemployment, and the authoritarian rule of the Taliban. Rights groups warn that such deportation plans could severely endanger their lives.
