UN Warns EU Against Deporting Nationals to Afghanistan
United Nations experts urged European Union member states to stop deporting Afghan nationals due to systematic human rights violations and gender persecution under the Taliban.
The United Nations warned European Union member states against the forced deportation of Afghan nationals, citing the international principle of non-refoulement. In a statement released October 22, 2026, experts cautioned that returning individuals to Afghanistan exposes them to a dire human rights situation characterized by torture and extrajudicial killings of journalists, former security personnel, and ethnic minorities.
UN monitors specifically highlighted the systematic gender persecution of women and girls, stating these actions may amount to crimes against humanity. They urged EU countries to avoid the normalization or legitimation of the Taliban regime unless concrete improvements occur, most notably the lifting of the ban on education for girls and women over sixth grade.
These warnings follow increased European efforts to return Afghan nationals who are deemed security risks or whose asylum applications were rejected. The UN expressed particular concern over a June 2026 meeting in Brussels where the European Commission hosted an official Taliban delegation. While the Commission characterized the visit as technical, the Taliban delegation leader described the encounter as historic.
