Amnesty International denounces forcible deportation of Afghan asylum seekers from Turkey

KABUL (Pajhwok): Amnesty International on Friday condemned forcible deportation of some 30 Afghan asylum seekers by Turkey.

Turkey’s forcible return of around 30 Afghan asylum seekers just hours after the European Union (EU)-Turkey refugee deal came into force showed that implementing the deal would risk refugees’ lives from the word go, Amnesty International said.

The organization said it received credible information indicating that Turkey violated European and international law by forcibly returning the asylum-seekers, who fear attacks by the Taliban, to Kabul without granting them access to an asylum procedure.

John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International director for Asian and Europe said Returns to Turkey could not be preceded on the basis that Turkey was a safe country for refugees. The EU should have adopted an independent resettlement plan and have worked with its partner Turkey to end the abuse of refugee rights.

Presidential Deputy Spokesman Syed Zafar Hashimi said no dead between Afghan government and the EU had been struck regarding the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers. He said Afghan government would investigate every case related to the violation of refugees’ rights.

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