13.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

9 Afghan men arrested after a hijacking incident at Stansted Airport have been given the right to live in the UK; Immigration Appellate Authority had ruled that the men would be in danger of attack from members of the Taliban if they were deported ("Afghans win right to stay in UK") [#23939],  [ID 2495]

Document(s): Open document

29.04.2003 - Source: BBC News

UK Voluntary return scheme to Afghanistan used by only 39 refugees; enforced return starts amid criticism by refugee NGOs ("Failed asylum seekers arrive home") [#12327],  [ID 2496]

"Around 20 failed asylum seekers - all men - arrived on Tuesday morning after being flown out from Gatwick Airport.

Officials say the deportees will receive food parcels on their return and have access to training courses.

BBC correspondent Catherine Davis watched them arrive at Kabul airport.

"One man slung a jacket over his head to avoid publicity; others though were keen to tell their story," she said.

"None were pleased to be back. Some spoke of security concerns.

"Many said they had left Afghanistan for economic reasons and had been in Britain for around a year.

"One man sold his house and shop in Kabul to get to London. Now, he said, he had no resources at all."

Some of the men had been carried, handcuffed, onto the plane by security staff.

They are likely to be followed by many more enforced departures, as the government begins a programme to return as many people as possible to Afghanistan.
[...]
The Home Office stopped forcing refugees back to Afghanistan in 1995 because of instability there.

Failed Afghan asylum seekers were instead given exceptional leave to remain in the UK. Most were given a term of four years, which was then automatically renewed.

A voluntary scheme was set up to offer Afghan asylum seekers an incentive of up to £2,500 to return home.

This was expected to attract 1,000 people and possibly up to 17,000 - but was taken up by only 39.

The UK has since begun removing "exceptional leave to remain" for failed Afghan asylum seekers, replacing it instead with a tighter system of controls."

Document(s): Open document

29.04.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

30 Afghan asylum seekers rejected by the UK and returned to their homeland ("Forced return of asylum seekers from UK condemned") [#12301],  [ID 2497]

"There has been strong condemnation of a decision by the UK to return a group of Afghan asylum seekers, after the government rejected their claims. With few details available, it's understood from rights groups and Afghan community organisations in the UK that 30 Afghans were flown back to their homeland from Stanstead airport, outside London on Monday.
[...]
Amnesty International (AI) also condemned the decision, saying the Afghans were forcibly returned. "This is not a responsible attitude towards human rights. It is simply premature," spokesman for Amnesty International, Neil Durkin told IRIN from London on Tuesday.

"Given the complexities and challenges in ensuring the sustainability of return, the timing of returns should be informed by human rights standards," he added. A recent mission from the human rights watchdog to Afghanistan concluded that conditions were still not conducive to the promotion of voluntary return.

"Lack of security in the country, including in Kabul, and in spite of the presence of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), is still a serious problem," a statement issued by Amnesty said.
[...]
Meanwhile, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a statement on Monday connected to the deportations. "There are groups of Afghans who remain in need of international protection. In this particular instance, UNHCR has been assured that the people who are subject to removal have availed themselves of the asylum procedure and have been found not to be in need of international protection."

The statement added that while security was still a concern in Afghanistan, last year more than 2 million people chose to return of their own will and that UNHCR hoped conditions would allow more than three million Afghans living outside the country mostly in Pakistan and Iran, to be able to return.

The refugee agency is calling for the Afghan authorities, and the international community, to take measures to strengthen security in the country, particularly in rural areas, as this will be a precondition for widespread return.

"We understand that at present the UK is returning people only to the Kabul region where the security situation is relatively stable," the statement said."

Document(s): Open document

28.04.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Group of asylum-seekers are to be forcibly returned to Afghanistan; their claims have been rejected by the UK authorities ("UK/Afghanistan: Forced return of Afghan asylum-seekers unacceptable") [#14001],  [ID 2498]

Document(s): Open document

21.08.2002 - Source: BBC News

BBC: Refugee organizations urge caution over Afghan returns scheme ("Caution urged over Afghan returns scheme") [#28866],  [ID 2499]

"Refugee campaign groups have urged caution over the government's proposals to offer Afghan asylum seekers up to £2,500 to return home - saying that the situation remains dangerous for many.

But they also raised concerns over whether or not Afghanistan could manage the potential return of 17,000 refugees from the UK.

Jean Candler, of the Refugee Council, said that any returns scheme should be based on a highly successful programme for Kosovo refugees which allowed a family member to return to their home country without losing their rights to enter the UK.[...]"

Document(s): Open document

11.07.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Change in Exceptional Leave policy because of "further and sustained" improvement of situation; enforced returns will be to Kabul only ("Afghanistan Bulletin 4/2002 (11 July 2002)") [#8659],  [ID 2500]

"2.1. On 18 April 2002 the long-standing practice of granting exceptional leave (ELE/R) for a period of 4 years to those applicants from Afghanistan who do not meet the criteria in the 1951 UN Refugee Convention for asylum was altered. As a result of recent events in Afghanistan and the reasonable expectation that conditions in the country would improve Ministers agreed that the period of exceptional leave granted to applicants who do not meet the criteria for asylum would be reduced to 12 months.

2.2. There has been further and sustained improvement in the country situation. Relevant country of origin information is contained in Afghanistan Bulletin 3/2002 issued on 11 July 2002. As a result of further improvements in the country situation and in particular in the capital Kabul, the blanket policy of normally granting exceptional leave in all cases where the applicant does not meet the criteria for a grant of asylum is no longer justified. The Minister announced this change of policy in answer to a Parliamentary Question on 11 July 2002. The previous exceptional leave policy therefore ends from the date of the Home Secretary's announcement.

2.3. [...]In cases where asylum has been refused, exceptional leave has not been granted, and any appeal has been dismissed, appropriate enforcement action will be taken.

2.4. In the first instance any enforced returns will be to Kabul only and in considering the application caseworkers should consider the situation with reference to the situation in Kabul and how it relates to the circumstances and vulnerability of the applicant concerned."

Document(s): Open document

28.06.2002 - Source: Council of the European Union

CIREA: Overview on asylum applicants from Afghanistan and neighbouring countries in Europe ("10399/02") [#31043],  [ID 2493]

Document(s): Open document

18.04.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Exceptional leave to remain reduced to 12 months ("Afghanistan Bulletin 2/2002") [#7848],  [ID 2501]

"12. It has long been the practice to grant exceptional leave to remain (ELR) for a period of 4 years to those applicants from Afghanistan who do not meet the criteria in the 1951 UN Refugee Convention for asylum. This approach to Afghan asylum claims has been a consequence of both the security and humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan as well as the practical difficulties of return.
13. As a result of the recent events there is a reasonable expectation that conditions in the country will improve within the foreseeable future allowing for the enforced return of those applicants who do not meet the criteria for asylum. Ministers have therefore agreed that as from the date of this bulletin the period of exceptional leave granted to applicants who do not meet the criteria for asylum will be reduced to 12 months. Unaccompanied minors, who qualify under separate policy instructions for leave until their 18th birthday, should receive such leave where it would last more than 12 months.
14. It must be noted that this is not a decision to immediately recommence forcible returns to Afghanistan, as the conditions are not yet suitable for return. The only immediate change is a reduction in the period of ELR granted due to the reasonable expectation that conditions will improve. The situation continues to be monitored by CIPU who will issue revised instructions as soon as conditions for enforced returns are considered suitable."

Document(s): Open document

11.02.2002 - Source: European Council on Refugees and Exiles

ECRE: Overview ("Current Treatment of Asylum applications from Afghan Asylum Seekers") [#8580],  [ID 2494]

Document(s): ecre-afgp010205.doc