The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has issued a strong warning to states over the ongoing involuntary return of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers, calling the practice a violation of international human rights and refugee law. Speaking on Friday, Türk said that individuals who had sought safety abroad are being forced back to Afghanistan against their will, exposing them to severe risks upon return.
According to figures from the UN Refugee Agency, nearly 270,000 Afghans have been deported to Afghanistan since the beginning of this year, with the majority returned from Iran and Pakistan. Smaller numbers have also been reported from Türkiye and Tajikistan. These latest returns add to already significant deportation figures, including more than 1.2 million Afghans expelled from Iran and around 150,000 from Pakistan in the previous year.
Türk stressed that many of those returned face serious threats in Afghanistan, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and girls, former government employees, security force members, journalists, civil society activists, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community. He warned that these individuals remain at heightened risk of arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment.
A recent joint report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN Human Rights Office highlighted that Afghans forcibly returned to the country have in several cases suffered grave human rights violations at the hands of the de facto authorities. The findings underscore concerns that returnees are not being adequately protected upon arrival.
The UN rights chief emphasized that forced returns violate the principle of non-refoulement under international law, which prohibits sending individuals back to places where they face serious harm. He urged governments to ensure that all asylum decisions are based on individualized risk assessments and comply fully with international legal obligations.
Türk also expressed concern over growing discussions in parts of Europe about resuming or expanding deportations to Afghanistan, despite the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. He warned that proposed changes to EU return policies could weaken existing safeguards and increase the risk of harm to vulnerable individuals.
In addition to human rights concerns, Afghanistan continues to face severe humanitarian and security challenges, including increased cross-border tensions and rising civilian casualties in recent months. The UN has cautioned that the situation remains highly unstable, further intensifying fears about the safety of those being returned.
