Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, has raised alarm over evidence of forced expulsions of asylum seekers at EU borders, particularly in Poland and Greece. He urges politicians not to bow to populist pressures regarding migration policies. Recent cases have surfaced where Afghan and Iraqi nationals were allegedly sent back to Belarus without being allowed to seek asylum. O'Flaherty criticizes these actions as violations of international law and emphasizes the need for humane treatment of asylum seekers amid increasing border security measures.
O'Flaherty described the actions of Belarus as deplorable and unacceptable, but the securitisation response by the neighbouring countries goes too far. The willingness to shut down any possibility of asylum is a violation of law, the willingness to return people across a border at risk of persecution is a violation of international law.
A group of 32 Afghan nationals, who say they fled their country after the Taliban returned to power, say they were forced back to Belarus by Polish border guards in 2021, giving them no chance to claim asylum.
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