Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Amnesty International has urged the European Union and its member states to halt efforts to forcibly return Afghan nationals to Afghanistan, warning that the country cannot currently be considered safe for forced returns.
In an open letter to EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and interior ministers of EU member states, Amnesty said cooperation with Taliban authorities on the readmission of Afghans could conflict with European governments’ obligations under international refugee and human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face a real risk of serious harm.
Amnesty said it was particularly concerned about efforts by EU governments to establish technical arrangements with the Taliban for returning Afghans, including people with criminal convictions or those considered security risks.
The organisation said Afghanistan was not considered a safe destination for forced returns even before the Taliban seized power in 2021 and that conditions have since deteriorated. It cited restrictions on fundamental rights, arbitrary detention, torture and mistreatment, limits on freedom of expression and serious restrictions affecting women, girls and ethnic and religious minorities.
The rights group also pointed to Afghanistan’s continuing humanitarian crisis, including poverty, drought, natural disasters and reduced humanitarian assistance. It said Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan can face severe difficulties finding shelter, employment, healthcare and other basic services, increasing the risks associated with forced returns.
Amnesty’s intervention follows a June 23 visit by a Taliban delegation to Brussels for discussions with European Commission officials on the return and readmission of Afghan nationals. The talks took place amid pressure from some EU governments to increase the number of rejected asylum seekers being returned.
The organisation warned that establishing formal readmission cooperation initially focused on people convicted of crimes or considered security threats could eventually create mechanisms for the return of other Afghans whose protection claims remain unresolved.
Amnesty called on EU governments to stop efforts to restart forced deportations and readmission cooperation with the Taliban and to ensure that every protection decision takes into account Afghanistan’s current human rights, security and humanitarian conditions.
It also urged European governments to ensure that engagement with the Taliban remains focused on protecting human rights and people at risk rather than facilitating deportations.
The debate comes as European governments face domestic pressure to increase the number of rejected asylum seekers returned to their countries of origin. Amnesty said such political pressure must not override states’ legal obligations to prevent the return of people who could face persecution or serious harm in Afghanistan.