Amnesty International has urged the international community to halt the unlawful expulsion of Afghan refugees and ensure their needs are met in accordance with international human rights law.
The rights group highlighted that Afghan refugees are facing arbitrary arrests and family separations in host countries, as well as human rights violations upon their return to Afghanistan amidst a severe humanitarian crisis.
International agencies have reported a rise in the deportation of Afghan refugees from neighboring nations, with calls for safe and dignified returns and increased support for returnees from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has warned against the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees, emphasizing the risks faced by women, children, and men being pushed back to Afghanistan against their will.
According to the UNHCR, nearly 270,000 Afghans have been deported to Afghanistan this year, mainly from Iran and Pakistan, with additional numbers from Turkey and Tajikistan, raising concerns about the safety of vulnerable groups like women, girls, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
The UN human rights agency stressed the importance of upholding the principle of non-refoulement and protecting Afghans from harm by refraining from actions that could expose them to irreparable harm upon return.
