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UN Human Rights Spokesperson Shabia Mantoo on involuntary returns to Afghanistan
“Afghan women children and men, continue to be pushed out of countries where they had sought safety, forcing them to return to Afghanistan against their will and exposing them to grave risk,” the UN Human Rights spokesperson said.
Since the beginning of the year, almost 270,000 Afghans have been deported to Afghanistan, mainly from Iran and Pakistan, according to UNHCR. Fewer numbers have also been reported from Türkiye and Tajikistan. These are in addition to the more than 1.2 million Afghans deported from Iran and 150,000 from Pakistan last year.
Last year's report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), entitled No Safe Haven, found that a number of Afghans involuntarily returned to Afghanistan experienced a range of serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and ill-treatment at the hands of the de facto authorities.
“Women and girls, individuals affiliated with the former government and its security forces, media workers, civil society, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community, are among those who remain at grave risk of reprisals and human rights violations and abuses,”
“Returning individuals at serious risk of human rights violations involuntarily to Afghanistan runs contrary to the core international law principle of non-refoulement. I urge States to abide by their international legal obligations and protect Afghans by not taking any action that exposes them to irreparable harm upon return,” she said.
Proposed new EU rules on returns, which are currently under consideration, are also concerning. They could weaken human rights safeguards and expose people to harm.
“As several EU Member States call for a more coordinated approach to returns of Afghan nationals, we are also alarmed at mounting reports that some countries in Europe are now resuming or considering deportations - despite the very severe human rights situation in Afghanistan,” Mantoo said.
“The High Commissioner strongly caution against all involuntary returns to Afghanistan in the absence of individualized risk assessments, these are required by and must be carried out in accordance with international human rights and refugee law,” the spokesperson said.
Apart from the very serious human rights situation, the country faces a precarious humanitarian situation and cross-border insecurity, particularly since October 2025. The last quarter saw the highest rates of civilian casualties documented since the Taliban takeover as a result of the escalation of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva:
Ravina Shamdasani: ravina.shamdasani@un.org
Shabia Mantoo: shabia.mantoo@un.org
Marta Hurtado : marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
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STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Shabia Mantoo on involuntary returns to Afghanistan
TRT: 01:49
SOURCE: OHCHR / UNOG
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 22 May 2026 – Geneva, Switzerland
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shots: Various Palais des Nations
- Interior shots: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Shabia Mantoo, UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson: “Afghan women children and men, continue to be pushed out of countries where they had sought safety, forcing them to return to Afghanistan against their will and exposing them to grave risk.”
- Interior shots: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Shabia Mantoo, UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson: “Women and girls, individuals affiliated with the former government and its security forces, media workers, civil society, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community, are among those who remain at grave risk of reprisals and human rights violations and abuses.”
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Shabia Mantoo, UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson: “Returning individuals at serious risk of human rights violations involuntarily to Afghanistan runs contrary to the core international law principle of non-refoulement. We urge States to abide by their international legal obligations and protect Afghans by not taking any action that exposes them to irreparable harm upon return.”
- Interior shots: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Shabia Mantoo, UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson: “As several EU Member States call for a more coordinated approach to returns of Afghan nationals, we are also alarmed at mounting reports that some countries in Europe are now resuming or considering deportations - despite the very severe human rights situation in Afghanistan.”
- Interior shots: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Shabia Mantoo, UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson: “The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk strongly cautions against all involuntary returns to Afghanistan in the absence of individualised risk assessments, these are required by and must be carried out in accordance with international human rights and refugee law.”
- Interior shots: Briefing room
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