UN warns of serious human rights violations against returning Afghans
The United Nations issued a strong warning on Thursday about “serious human rights violations” committed by Taliban authorities against Afghan citizens returning to their homeland. The alert comes amid mass deportations from neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan.
According to a joint report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), returnees—especially women and former government employees—have been subjected to grave abuses. These include cases of torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest, and detention.
Thousands of Afghans have been forcibly repatriated in recent months, many of them fleeing persecution, poverty, or instability. Despite claims by the Taliban of amnesty and reintegration, the UN has documented numerous incidents of mistreatment, raising alarm among international humanitarian organizations.
The report urges the Taliban de facto authorities to uphold international human rights standards and to guarantee the safety and dignity of all returnees. It also calls on countries expelling Afghans to assess individual risks before deportation, in line with international law.
