Amnesty International Urges EU to Halt Afghan Deportation Plans

DID Press: Amnesty International has called on the European Union and its member states to immediately suspend deportation programs involving Afghan asylum seekers and to end any cooperation with the Taliban on forced returns.

The organization warned that Afghanistan under Taliban rule remains unsafe for returnees, arguing that deportations could expose individuals to serious risks. It further noted that the European Commission has recently invited Taliban representatives to Brussels for talks on readmission arrangements, amid pressure from some EU member states to accelerate deportations.

Amnesty International stressed that Afghanistan is facing a deep humanitarian and human rights crisis, with an estimated 22 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

The rights group cited ongoing restrictions on women and girls, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings as evidence that forced returns would violate international legal obligations.

It described any EU engagement with the Taliban on deportation matters as “dangerous and irresponsible.”

The statement comes amid reports that Belgium has issued visas to a Taliban delegation for travel.