Afghan ethnic minority protests EU-Afghan migrant return deal

Record ID: 84691

  • Title: Afghan ethnic minority protests EU-Afghan migrant return deal
  • Date: 5th October 2016
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS OF EU MEMBER STATES GATHERED OUTSIDE EUROPEAN COUNCIL BUILDING PROTESTERS / PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN, READING (English): "Hazaras want justice" PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS AND BANNERS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "No more systematic discrimination in Afghanistan" / PROTESTERS PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS, FLAGS AND BANNER PICTURING LATE HAZARA LEADER, ABDUL ALI MAZARI SIGN READING (English): "Ashraf Ghani, Stop lying to the world" ELDERLY PROTESTER AND GIRL HOLDING SIGN SIGNS AND FLAGS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "Hazaras want justice" (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD HAZARA COUNCIL PRESIDENT, TAHIR SHAARAN, SAYING: "We know there is a lot of pressure in Europe because of this flux of asylum seekers and refugees but at the same time we really, really want that they should understand the ground situation, they shouldn't actually go for the easy policies. We know it's not (an) easy task but we have to make sure that these people when they get back, they're safe and that the government can actually guarantee their security and safety but unfortunately this is not true. And the international community should actually consider that very seriously." PROTESTERS HOLDING AFGHAN AND BRITISH FLAGS POLICE HELICOPTER FLYING OVER PROTEST POLICEMEN STANDING BY PROTESTERS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "Afghanistan is not safe for Hazaras! Do not send them back." PROTESTERS STANDING BY STROLLERS, CHILDREN HUGGING
  • Embargoed: 20th October 2016 13:39
  • Keywords: EU Afghanistan Ghani Hazara Shia minority demonstration protest migrants return
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00152QBQDJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of members of the Afghan ethnic minority Hazaras protested on Wednesday (October 5) against an EU-Afghan migrant return deal outside the European Council, where President Ashraf Ghani was attending an EU-led donors' conference.
    The EU and Afghanistan signed a political agreement this month on facilitating returns. Brussels wants Afghanistan to take back more of its own nationals who are irregular migrants, meaning they have reached the bloc but are not eligible for asylum in Europe.
    In return, the EU has offered financial and other support to the Afghan government and the International Organization for Migration to help reintegrate those deported, including by helping them find jobs.
    But with 1.2 million Afghans forced to live as refugees in their own country due to the Taliban insurgency, rights groups say Afghanistan is in no position to take back deportees.
    The organizer of the Brussels protest, World Hazara Council President Tahir Shaaran, called on the EU to verify that the Afghan government is in a position to guarantee the security of the returning migrants before starting to send them back.
    "We know there is a lot of pressure in Europe because of this flux of asylum seekers and refugees but at the same time we really, really want that they should understand the ground situation, they shouldn't actually go for the easy policies. We know it's not (an) easy task but we have to make sure that these people when they get back, they're safe and that the government can actually guarantee their security and safety but unfortunately this is not true. And the international community should actually consider that very seriously," Shaaran said.
    Hazaras are a mainly Shi'ite community, several thousand of whom have fled to Europe in recent years to escape abuse and poverty in marginalised communities in Afghanistan and Iran.
    Often singled out because of their religion, Hazaras were persecuted by the Sunni Taliban during its 1996-2001 rule in Afghanistan. Many fled to Iran and Pakistan, where rights groups say they are still persecuted.
    In Afghanistan, the fall of the Taliban in 2001 brought hope that Hazaras' lives would improve. But in July, at least 80 people taking part in a pro-Hazara demonstration in Kabul were killed in bomb attacks. Islamic State claimed responsibility.
    Meanwhile, the EU is still struggling with political aftershocks triggered by the arrival of some 1.3 million refugees and migrants last year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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