Austria deported first Afghan national since Taliban takeover

VIENNA: Austria has deported an Afghan national back to his home country for the first time since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan four years ago. The conservative-led coalition government in Vienna announced that further deportations will follow soon.

The government has made fighting illegal immigration a top priority, aiming to reduce support for the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) by addressing one of its key issues.

The three-party ruling coalition of centrist parties took office in March after the FPO won the parliamentary election but failed to form a governing alliance. The FPO, however, still leads in public opinion polls.

‘SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE’

Chancellor Christian Stocker of the Austrian People’s Party wrote on X,

“This morning, a man convicted of serious crimes was deported to Kabul – the first deportation to Afghanistan since 2021.”

He added, “Austria is thus sending a clear message: zero tolerance for anyone who has forfeited their right to remain by committing criminal offences.”

In July, Austria also became the first European Union country to deport a Syrian back to their home country since the civil war began, despite objections from human rights groups who said it was still unsafe.

Austria has been signaling for months that it plans to resume deportations to Afghanistan, despite similar warnings.

Human Rights Concerns

Amnesty International condemned the move, saying “Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world.”

It added, “Anyone who deports people to a state that commits crimes against its own people is deliberately denying protection and breaking the law.”

“This betrayal of human rights must be stopped immediately!”

Syria and Afghanistan remain the top countries of origin for asylum-seekers in Austria. The government has said that, for now, only criminal offenders will be deported.

Chancellor Stocker confirmed, “The Interior Ministry under Gerhard Karner is preparing further deportations.”

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