Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has expressed serious concern over reports that the European Union is hosting Taliban officials to discuss the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers.
On Wednesday, April 22, Bennett wrote on X that any forced return of Afghan refugees could violate the principle of non-refoulement.
He added that, under the current situation in Afghanistan, the human rights situation, especially for women, human rights defenders, and former government employees, is alarming.
Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher with Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, also said that the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers should not be carried out based on agreements with the Taliban.
This comes as many Afghan refugees, including journalists, civil activists, and former security personnel, left Afghanistan due to fear of Taliban reprisals.
It is noted that forced returns of these individuals could expose them to danger.
