The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has reported the deportation of more than 300 Afghan migrants from Turkey.
According to a statement from the ministry, these individuals, including both documented and undocumented migrants, were returned to Afghanistan on November 8 and 9.
The Deputy Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, during a meeting with the deported migrants, stated that efforts are being made to provide employment opportunities for the returning migrants.
The ministry’s statement further said: “On November 8 and 9 of this year, 325 Afghan migrants residing in Istanbul, Turkey, both documented and undocumented, were deported and returned to the country by air.”
Asifa Stanekzai, an activist for migrant rights, said, “To prevent informal migration, host countries must facilitate legal migration pathways, which would help reduce the rate of irregular migration.”
Meanwhile, some Afghan migrants residing in Turkey are urging the host country to increase support and refrain from deporting documented migrants.
Wahid Amini, an Afghan migrant in Turkey, said, “Our request to international organizations, especially those working in migration, is to address issues such as injustices against Afghans, their deportation, and the conditions of thousands of Afghans in Turkish camps. We also call on our embassy to appoint a dedicated delegation to oversee this matter.”
Mohammad Khan Talebi, another migrant rights activist, said: “The forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Turkey is against international conventions, and international organizations should intervene in this matter.”
In recent years, the deportation of Afghan migrants from host countries, especially neighboring countries, has intensified, with some regional and European countries also expelling Afghan migrants.