members still in Afghanistan. The fear of
retaliation against their family members
by the Taliban has led to self-censorship
among HRDs in exile, by avoiding public
spaces, media appearances, and social
media engagement. For example, some
HRDs said they have “reduced their public
profiles, despite the critical significance of
their work” due to possible revenge against
their relatives back in Afghanistan.
They also expressed a strong need for
family reunification, not only to save the
lives of those at risk but also to be able to
strongly advocate for ending violations of
human rights in Afghanistan without any
fear of retaliation.
The rise of far-right movements across
different countries in Europe has already
left many migrants and people with
migration backgrounds at disadvantage,
with many people having concerns over
increased discrimination and restrictive
policies as the large majority in the
continent is shifting rightward.56 On 30
August, 2024, amid the rise of far-right
extremism, Berlin authorities announced
they would reverse the policy of halting
migrants' return to Afghanistan and
Syria. This decision followed a knife attack
in Solingen, Germany, in which the
perpetrator had a refugee background.
Soon after, authorities in Austria and
Netherlands announced to follow the same
suit, deporting Afghanistan and Syrian
nationals who are deemed to pose security
threats to these countries.57 International
rights groups expressed concerns that
this would significantly endanger asylum
seekers, including HRDs taking refuge in
these countries.58
56
DW News, David Ehl., ‘Europe’s Far-Right
Gains Raise Migrant Fears for Future’, 11 June, 2024,
https://shorturl.at/xnXdx
Euro News, ‘Austria Joins Germany in De57
porting Afghans with Criminal Records Back Home’, 1
September, 2024, https://shorturl.at/ti8rj
Amnesty International, ‘Germany: Depor58
tations to Afghanistan Risks Government Becoming
an Accomplice to the Taliban’, 30 August, 2024, https://
The circumstance created concern among
Afghanistan’s HRDs in the EU, with some
of them having already experienced
discriminatory behaviors in their host
countries. For example, a WHRD based in
Austria described her observation as such:
“There is reluctance of locals to interact
with migrants. I have noticed most locals
do not prefer to sit on a seat of a train or a
bench of a park when a migrant is there.”59
Another HRD expressed the rise of a
“colonial mentality across many countries
in Europe, with a prejudicial thinking or
perception whereby all refugees from
certain countries are equally violent,
uneducated, and lack expertise.”60
Many HRDs also expressed their deep
concern over preferential treatment given
to activists and refugees from other certain
countries, as a sign of discrimination. This
preferential treatment by host countries
towards certain refugees marginalises
individuals
and
groups,
particularly
Muslim communities like Afghanistan
nationals and HRDs. It not only diminishes
their ability to effectively advocate for
human rights in exile, as their voices are
often dismissed or undervalued, but
also weakens the sense of solidarity they
experience. Meanwhile, HRDs in exile
have expressed growing concerns over
online threats and harassment, against
themselves and their family members
still in Afghanistan, often by the Taliban
affiliates and their sympathisers. Women
activists and defenders are the primary
target of harassment, gender-specific
insults, and smear tactics on social media.
2.3.
Local Assistance and Need for
Support in Exile
shorturl.at/X3bgD
Anonymous, “Afghanistan Women Human
59
Rights Defender based in Austria,” In an Interview with
the Author, May 11, 2024.
Anonymous, “Afghanistan Human Rights
60
Defender based in Italy,” Attended the Focus Group Session in Geneva, June 21, 2024.
23