UK and France must not undermine human rights to deport Afghans

3.01.00pm GMT Mon 23rd Nov 2009

The European Parliament in Strasbourg will tomorrow debate the forced return by France and Britain of 27 Afghans to Kabul on a shared charter flight.

The UK's Refugee Council and France's Terre d'Asile have launched a petition against this practice. They say it contravenes the international Refugee Convention, which bans the return of asylum-seekers to a place of danger.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"There is a heavy onus on EU states to prove that would-be refugees are not being returned to a situation where their lives are under threat. Considering that NATO and EU states are fighting a war in Afghanistan, this is a tall order, if not impossible."

"Rejected asylum-seekers must not just be lumped together and kicked out in breach of their human rights to have an individual assessment of their need for a place of refuge from threats."

"Member States want to be able to make joint return flights but without agreeing a common European asylum policy. Recognition rates vary hugely from one Member State to another. The incoming Commission and new Council President Herman Van Rompuy must make this a priority."

ENDS