“Lives in Danger”: Afghan Workers Demand Rescue from Taliban Rule
Around 100 Afghan guards who worked with the Dutch government before the 2021 evacuation of Kabul have launched legal action to force the Netherlands to relocate them and their families to safety.
The guards say they are living under constant threat after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops and the end of the NATO mission. Many are reportedly moving between safe houses to avoid detection.
Despite a decision by the Raad van de Europese Unie (Council of the European Union) stating that Afghans who worked with the European police mission (Europese politiemissie – Eupol) should be evacuated, the Dutch government has so far refused to grant them asylum.
The government previously withdrew an earlier commitment to resettle the guards, arguing that as many as 4,500 people could become eligible under such a scheme. Officials also claimed the guards did not qualify for protection because they were not directly employed by the Dutch state.
A court in Den Haag (The Hague) had earlier ordered the relocation of 42 guards along with their families, but that ruling was later overturned on appeal, leaving many still stranded in Afghanistan.
According to أن-ماري سنيلز, former head of the armed forces union AFMP, the remaining guards face serious risks, including imprisonment or death. She described incidents where Taliban members reportedly surrounded homes, forcing guards to live in fear.
In December, a motion introduced by كاتي بيري from GroenLinks-PvdA called for the evacuation of dozens of embassy and military guards. The proposal received support from coalition parties including CDA and VVD, yet concrete action has not followed.
Critics argue that the Netherlands is applying increasingly strict policies compared to other countries that continue evacuation efforts. Advocacy groups accuse the government of avoiding responsibility and abandoning individuals who supported Dutch missions during the conflict.