The Women’s Window of Hope Movement in Pakistan have called on the international community to halt the forced deportation of Afghan refugees as concerns for their safety and well-being rise.
In a video seen by Rukhshana Media, members of the movement held a protest saying Iran and Pakistan are placing women and girls at grave risk by sending them back to Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
The demonstrators were highlighting the dire situation faced by Afghan refugees to mark June 20 World Refugee Day.
Since the Taliban’s seizure of power in August 2021, many Afghan women, girls, including government employees, lawyers, journalists, and activists fled Afghanistan out of fear of Taliban reprisals and prisoner releases.
The initial aim of many who fled was to head to European and American countries, but instead they found themselves stuck waiting for visas in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan. More recently, Iran and Pakistan have been forcing them to return to Afghanistan.
Despite an international outcry against these deportations, both countries have continued to force hundreds of Afghan migrants out of their borders daily.
According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees, on June 13 and 14 alone, over 4,800 refugees were repatriated to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan.
Members of the Women’s Window of Hope Movement said Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran prefer the challenges of their host countries, including the lack of access to welfare, jobs, and education, than face the pervasive fear and insecurity they face under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
In addition to calling for an immediate halt to deportations, the movement urged the international community to expedite refugee asylum applications from Afghanistan, emphasizing the right of refugees to a secure life under international regulations.
Amnesty International has expressed concern about the uncertain future faced by Afghan women and girls in Pakistan and called on countries and international organizations to listen to the voices of these Afghan refugees.
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett has also urged countries worldwide to accelerate the resettlement process for Afghan refugees.
