Dozens of Afghan citizens have been deported from Tajikistan. The authorities of Tajikistan deported 47 Afghan refugees to Afghanistan, where the Taliban is in power. As reported by the “Young Journalists Club” on April 23 of this year, the currently deported Afghan citizens had refugee status granted by the United Nations (UN), lived in the […]
Dozens of Afghan citizens have been deported from Tajikistan.
The authorities of Tajikistan deported 47 Afghan refugees to Afghanistan, where the Taliban is in power.
As reported by the “Young Journalists Club” on April 23 of this year, the currently deported Afghan citizens had refugee status granted by the United Nations (UN), lived in the city of Vahdat, and primarily worked in private transportation – that is, as taxi drivers.
It is reported that some of the refugees were summoned to a law enforcement agency and detained, while others were arrested in public places and deported to Afghanistan.
As always, the authorities of Tajikistan do not comment on the reasons for the deportation of Afghan refugees.
After the Taliban takeover, thousands of Afghans fled to Tajikistan. At that time, their number reached up to 10,000, but currently, there are very few Afghans in the country.
Initially, Tajik authorities claimed they could accept up to 100,000 Afghan refugees and even received financial assistance from European countries. However, when numerous families from Afghanistan rushed to Tajikistan, they were not allowed entry into the country, and some were expelled after crossing the border.
The authorities explained the reasons for refusing to accept Afghan refugees by citing economic difficulties and threats to public safety.
During the asylum application process, some Afghan asylum seekers complained about mistreatment by Tajik security forces at the border. They claimed they were taken to an area with no drinking water or food.
Some asylum seekers who managed to enter Tajikistan and received UN refugee certificates, including children and elderly people, were detained at their places of residence and on the streets, and then deported to Afghanistan. Some were detained by the Taliban.
Only in December 2024 did the authorities of Tajikistan deport more than 80 people, and in September 2022 – more than 200. Additionally, there were reports that dozens of refugees were expelled to Afghanistan. Such actions violate the “principle of non-refoulement” for individuals seeking asylum.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have repeatedly expressed serious concern about the detention and expulsion of Afghan refugees, including children, from Tajikistan; however, the government of the country has, as usual, ignored these demands.