Six EU countries have triggered an outcry by insisting that deportations to Afghanistan must continue in order to deter refugees.
A leaked letter from the Austrian, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, German and Greek interior ministers said stopping deportations would “send the wrong signal”.
They told the European Commission that a lenient stance was “likely to motivate even more Afghan citizens to leave their home for the EU”.
Gains made by the Taliban in Afghanistan after Nato troops all but ended their 20-year mission have raised fears of an imminent refugee crisis.
More than 200,000 Afghans have been displaced in three months.
Afghanistan wants a three-month halt to deportations because of the deteriorating security situation in the country, while NGOs are urging Europe to reconsider failed asylum claims.
While some countries including Sweden and Finland have agreed to pause deportations, other EU countries are determined to continue them.
The letter by six EU ministers, first reported by Belgian newspaper Knack, led to fierce criticism from watchdogs who said Europe had its priorities wrong.
“Afghanistan is on fire, but let’s keep sending refugees back, EU members say,” said Rik Goverde of Save the Children. “Humanity at its finest.”
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles, a network of NGOs, took issue with the ministers’ call for neighbouring countries to take in more refugees.
It said that only a small proportion of Afghan refugees would come to Europe and that the EU should focus on ensuring security and humanitarian aid.
“The vast majority of displaced Afghans will be hosted in neighbouring countries as is currently the case,” it said.
“Turmoil and violence in Afghanistan, escalating alarmingly. Priority for six EU states: returning people and preventing displaces Afghans arriving in Europe.”
Jan Kooy, a deputy media director at Human Rights Watch, pointed out that some countries saw Afghanistan as too dangerous for their own citizens.
“This letter went out as Taliban extremists are winning ground all over Afghanistan, and many countries urge their nationals to leave because their lives may be at risk,” Mr Kooy said.
'Genuine needs'
The ministers said in their letter that Brussels should press Afghanistan to take back nationals who do not have “genuine protection needs” in Europe.
They said some Afghan nationals had committed serious crimes in Europe or merited “particular attention when it comes to integration challenges”.
Hannah Neumann, a German member of the European Parliament, criticised her country’s government for putting its name to the letter.
“It’s Taliban slaughter that motivates people to run away from Afghanistan, not EU member states stopping forced returns,” she said. “Why is the German government signing this disgraceful letter?”.
About 400,000 Afghans have been forced from their homes since the beginning of the year, more than half of them in the last three months, it is estimated.
Iran hosts about a million Afghans, with another 1.4m living in Pakistan, according to the UN’s refugee agency.
Responding to criticism of the letter, Belgium’s Asylum and Migration Minister Sammy Mahdi said those who did not need protection should be deported.
“The fact that regions of a country are not safe does not mean that every national of that country is automatically entitled to protection,” he said.
The European Commission said it had received the letter from the six countries and would reply in due time.
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
