UN Rapporteur Urges European Court of Justice to Decide on Afghan Asylum Deportations

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett stated that the European Court of Justice must decide whether Afghan asylum seekers can be returned to Afghanistan. He pointed to the absence of a fair judicial system in the country and reports of torture as key concerns.

Bennett stressed that a separate and thorough assessment must be conducted for every individual based on human rights laws, international migration laws, and the European legal framework. He warned that some Afghan asylum seekers face the risk of prosecution or mistreatment upon return.

The rapporteur criticized EU engagement with the Taliban, saying that officials' travel to Europe helps normalize the group and amounts to a slap in the face of Afghan women. He described a recent Taliban delegation trip to Brussels and meetings with EU member states as concerning and not necessary or wise.

Bennett added that only a small part of human rights violations in Afghanistan is reflected publicly, with the situation possibly much broader due to censorship and access restrictions. He said the overall human rights situation is deteriorating, with women, girls, minorities, journalists, and human rights defenders facing intensified violations. Bennett noted that he has been banned from traveling to Afghanistan for more than two years.