Debate in Vienna: Taliban officials contribute to deportations
A delegation from the Afghan Taliban met with the Austrian Ministry of the Interior in Vienna to assist in identifying Afghans scheduled for deportation. The Ministry of the Interior described this cooperation as "necessary" for the deportation of criminals, but human rights organizations strongly criticized this move.
Reports indicate that at least one representative of the Taliban officially visited Vienna. At the Simmering prison and the police detention center in Hernals, at least 19 Afghans were presented to Taliban representatives for identification. The spokesperson for Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) confirmed the meetings, emphasizing that this was part of a 'reliable asylum policy.'
It is noted that this administrative cooperation came after a previous visit by an Austrian official to Afghanistan at the beginning of the year to establish contact with the Taliban administration. The Ministry of Interior stated that the entry of Taliban representatives into Austria was "legal," even though the Taliban regime in Kabul is not internationally recognized, including by Austria. So far, only Russia recognizes the Taliban government as the actual government.
Human rights organizations condemned Austria's cooperation with the Taliban, describing it as a "taboo violation," especially since the meeting coincided with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz from Asylkoordination warned that the cooperation could have serious consequences for the asylum applications of the affected individuals. The Afghan ambassador to Austria, Manizha Bakhtari, who opposes the Taliban, announced in August that she would resign if Austria cooperated with the regime.
Austria is following a similar approach to measures taken by other European countries. Germany has resumed the deportation of Afghan citizens, sending special flights to deport Afghan citizens convicted of crimes since the Taliban took power in August 2021. These deportations remain highly controversial, as the security situation in Afghanistan remains unstable, and human rights violations by the Taliban are widespread. Questions remain about how deportations can be carried out without official diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime.