In a strong rebuke to recent deportation practices, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has condemned the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers. He articulated that such actions are a flagrant violation of international human rights law. Türk emphasized the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they are likely to face persecution, a tenet enshrined in Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire. Decades of conflict and documented human rights abuses, particularly following the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, have driven thousands to flee. In countries like Pakistan and Iran, refugees encounter severe challenges. Reports highlight that Afghan refugees in Pakistan endure precarious conditions, with many subjected to unwarranted home raids and arrests, despite holding valid visas. The stoppage of Proof of Registration cards in 2023 has exacerbated their plight, complicating their legal status and documentation efforts. Notably, Pakistan deported over 146,000 Afghans in 2026 alone.
Iran, hosting a massive Afghan refugee population, has also intensified its deportation efforts, expelling about 1.5 million people. This broader trend of repatriation has sparked concern among human rights groups, especially as European nations enter the fray. The European Union has faced backlash for its engagements with Taliban representatives regarding deportations. Such actions contradict the European Court of Justice’s 2024 ruling, which acknowledged that systemic gender-based oppression by the Taliban constitutes persecution, thus warranting asylum protections based on nationality and gender alone.
Türk warns of the grave consequences for women and human rights defenders if forced returns continue. These individuals face the risk of gender-based violence, torture, and possible execution if sent back. These realities starkly conflict with the international mandate to safeguard individuals from returning to environments of severe harm.
This situation underscores the urgent need for global adherence to international legal obligations to protect vulnerable Afghan populations from further trauma and instability.