Amnesty International South Asia on Saturday called for an end to what it described as the “unlawful expulsions” of Afghan refugees, warning that millions are being expelled worldwide, with expulsions are on the rise.
To mark World Refugee Day, the rights group said more than 5 million Afghans have returned since 2023, mainly from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan. It also expressed concern over ongoing discussions in several European countries about deporting Afghans to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Afghan refugees and asylum seekers have faced arbitrary arrests, family separations, police raids and forced returns without proper assessments of their protection needs, the organization reported.
“No one leaves their country without a reason,” Amnesty said, warning that returning Afghans to Afghanistan violates the international principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending people to places where they risk persecution, torture, arbitrary detention, or other serious human rights abuses.
It added that Afghanistan remains in the grip of a severe humanitarian and human rights crisis. More than 21 million people depend on humanitarian assistance in the war-torn country, according to UN reports. Returnees face poverty, unemployment, lack of basic services, documentation challenges, and family separation, while women and girls continue to face Taliban-imposed restrictions on education and employment.
The country is also struggling with the impact of recurring earthquakes and floods.
