The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has urged the European Union and its member states not to deport Afghans to Afghanistan, warning that the risk of torture remains “genuine” and that non-refoulement obligations are absolute.
In a statement on social media, Bennett said there are no
exceptions to the principle of non-refoulement and that diplomatic assurances
cannot remove the risk faced by individuals returned to Afghanistan. He
stressed that each case requires an individualized assessment before any
deportation decision is made.
Bennett also referenced guidance from the U.N. Committee
Against Torture, which states that diplomatic assurances from receiving states
should not be used to circumvent protections under Article 3 of the Convention
Against Torture when substantial risks exist.
He urged the European Union and the European Commission to
avoid returns to Afghanistan, citing continued concerns over the risk of
ill-treatment and torture.
The warning comes as several European countries debate
stricter migration policies and possible returns of rejected asylum seekers to
Afghanistan, a country that remains under Taliban rule and faces ongoing human
rights scrutiny.
