Amnesty urges halt to illegal forced returns of Afghans
Amnesty International has urged governments to immediately stop forcibly returning Afghan migrants to Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Amnesty International has urged governments to immediately stop forcibly returning Afghan migrants to Afghanistan, warning that people are being unlawfully deported despite the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis.
The rights group said forced returns are being carried out by Pakistan, Iran, and some European states even as Afghanistan grapples with widespread poverty, climate shocks, and severe restrictions on women’s rights under Taliban rule.
The appeal followed remarks last week by Georgette Gagnon, deputy head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, who told the UN Security Council that around 2.5 million Afghans have returned so far.
She said the influx represents a 6 percent population increase, placing intense strain on already fragile economic, climate, and humanitarian systems.
In a statement, Amnesty described Afghanistan as facing a “deepening humanitarian crisis” and warned of a “real risk of serious harm” to returnees.
The organization said international law prohibits the forced return of individuals to countries where they face a real risk of serious human rights violations.
“Generations of Afghans have fled to Pakistan and Iran during decades of conflict, meaning many young people have never lived in Afghanistan,” Amnesty said, adding that both countries have intensified pressure on Afghan migrants in recent years.
Amnesty also cited media reports that Germany, Austria, and the European Union are holding talks with Taliban officials to facilitate deportations. The group warned that many returnees are unable to find work, while women and girls face sweeping restrictions on education, employment, and movement.
“This rush to forcibly return people to Afghanistan ignores why they fled in the first place and the serious dangers they face upon return,” said Smriti Singh, Amnesty’s South Asia director.
The warning comes as several Western countries, including the United States and European states, have tightened entry restrictions for Afghan asylum seekers. At the same time, Iran and Pakistan have increased arrests and forced deportations of Afghan migrants living in their territories, Amnesty said.
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