Austria Initiates First Deportation to Afghanistan Since Taliban Takeover

Austria has deported its first individual to Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control of the country in August 2021. This action has ignited significant backlash from human rights organizations. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker announced the deportation on social media, emphasizing that further removals are on the horizon.

In a post on X, Stocker stated, “Those who do not abide by our rules must leave.” He reiterated Austria’s commitment to a policy of “zero tolerance for those who have forfeited their right to stay through criminal acts.” Specifically, the individual deported was a convicted criminal who had served four years in prison for a sex offense and serious assault, according to Austrian public broadcaster ORF.

Human Rights Concerns Arise

The decision to deport has drawn sharp criticism from Amnesty International, which condemned the action as a violation of human rights. The organization highlighted that Afghanistan remains one of the most perilous countries globally and stated, “Those who deport people to a state that commits crimes against its own people are deliberately denying protection and breaking the law.” Amnesty called for an immediate halt to such deportations, labeling them a “betrayal of human rights.”

Austria’s recent deportation is not an isolated incident. In July 2023, the country became the first European Union member to send a Syrian national back to Syria since the onset of the civil war in 2011. That deportation similarly faced scrutiny, with concerns raised about the safety of individuals returned to a nation still in turmoil.

Austria’s Immigration Policies Under Scrutiny

The current three-party governing coalition in Austria, which took office in March 2023, has prioritized the issue of irregular immigration. The coalition includes the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), which performed strongly in the parliamentary elections in September but did not secure the ability to form a government.

In a broader context, Germany has resumed deportations of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan since August 2022. Recently, twenty European countries, including Austria and Germany, urged the European Commission to focus on the return of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Europe, either voluntarily or through enforced measures.

As Austria embarks on this controversial path, the implications of such deportations extend beyond national policy, touching on critical discussions regarding human rights and international law. The government’s stance may set a precedent for how European nations approach the complex issue of immigration and asylum in an increasingly uncertain global environment.