WESTERN nations behaved "shamefully" by deporting people to Afghanistan before leaving the nation to the Taliban, an advocate for Afghan refugees has said.
Abdul Ghafoor, the director of the Afghanistan Migrants Advice and Support Organisation (Amaso), said some nations were trying to deport Afghans back to the nation even until the day Kabul fell.
"I have been advocating against the deportation to Afghanistan for the past six years... my fear was what we are witnessing today," the 35-year-old told the PA news agency.
"It's shameful to see that some of the countries were insisting [on deportations] until the last day – until Kabul had collapsed."
Ghafoor only named Belgium and Austria among countries that were insisting on deportations until the Taliban had taken Kabul, but added the UK has been "very tough" on Afghan refugees.
READ MORE: Scots aid worker stays in Kabul to continue working with Unicef
Home Office statistics released this week show a total of 6033 Afghan nationals had enforced returns from the UK since 2010. Of those, 10 were within the most recent 12-month period covered by the figures.
The highest number in any 12-month period was 1392 in year to June 2011, while the lowest was the 10 returns in year to March 2021.
"The UK has been very tough towards refugees, especially Afghan refugees," Ghafoor said.
"Those who were deported and those I had a chance to meet ... among them were people who actually had been granted asylum until they were 18.
"As soon as they were 18, everything was ripped again from them – everything was taken and they were in limbo."
Ghafoor said those deported to Afghanistan are at a higher risk of being targeted by the Taliban.
"Afghan returnees, among them you have Christian converts, atheists who have changed their religion," he said.
"To the Taliban... they are infidels."
Ghafoor said most European countries "including the UK" are not offering enough legal routes for refugees to travel to their countries.
"If you want to stop illegal migration let's do it – but what's your alternative? What legal or safer ways do you have for refugees?" he added.
READ MORE: Kabul Airport attack was reminder other dangerous forces exist in Afghanistan
Separate Home Office figures show 3476 Afghan nationals have been refused entry at UK ports since 2010 – including 167 in the year to March 2021.
The UK Government has promised it would take up to 20,000 Afghan refugees, with as many as 5000 in the first year, following the Taliban takeover.
"I don't think [5000] is enough ... there are millions of people suffering," Ghafoor said.
"I don't sleep at night, just worried by my fellow Afghans back in Afghanistan."
Ghafoor was working in his office in Kabul when the capital fell on August 15.
He quickly had to burn documents to protect thousands of Taliban targets, including his staff and the displaced he helps.
He then went into hiding for fear his work made him a target for the Taliban, before fleeing on an evacuation flight to Germany with his family several days later.
"They were the most horrible experiences of my life," Ghafoor said.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel