Austria deports the first person to Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, sparking a wave of anger
Austria carried out its first deportation to Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021, a move that sparked widespread anger among human rights groups. Chancellor Christian Stocker confirmed the deportation on Tuesday, announcing that Austria would continue to deport those who violate its laws.
Stöger, the leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), said: "This sends a clear message: there is no tolerance for those who lose their right to stay due to committing crimes." He added that the Ministry of the Interior, headed by Gerhard Karner, is preparing for additional deportations.
According to the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), the deported person had been convicted of sexual assault and causing serious bodily harm, and had spent four years in prison before being deported. Amnesty International condemned this action, stating that Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The organization said: "Deporting people to a regime that persecutes its own citizens is a violation of international law."
This was not the first controversial deportation by Austria. In July, the country sent a Syrian citizen back to Syria — the first case of its kind within the European Union since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. This decision also faced severe criticism from international organizations that questioned the safety of the returnees.
The ruling coalition in Austria, which took office in March, has made it a priority to take a hard line against irregular migration, a policy that has sparked controversy within the European Union. At the same time, Germany resumed deportations of Afghans in August 2024, and just days ago, twenty European countries — including Austria and Germany — called on the European Commission to expedite the return of Afghan citizens residing illegally in Europe, whether voluntarily or forcibly.