Canada deported 19 Afghan nationals in 2023 after their refugee claims were rejected, even as the Canadian government continues to condemn the Taliban’s human rights violations, according to a report by CBC News.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated that none of the 19 individuals were deported due to safety or security concerns but declined to provide further details, citing privacy rules. The agency also did not disclose how many of the deported individuals were women.
The deportations occurred despite Canada’s federal Temporary Suspension of Removals (TSR) order for Afghan nationals, which has been in place since 1994. The TSR is intended to halt deportations to countries where general conditions, such as armed conflict or environmental disasters, pose risks to civilians. However, the CBSA clarified that individuals deemed inadmissible due to criminality, organized crime, or security concerns can still be deported under the TSR.
The CBSA said the deported individuals left Canada “voluntarily,” explaining that they were informed they could remain in Canada under the TSR but requested the enforcement of their removal orders.
Calls for Gender-Specific Protections
The deportations come as Afghanistan’s human rights crisis continues to deteriorate under Taliban rule, with women and girls facing severe restrictions on education, work, and public life. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, recently urged Canada to grant refugee status to all female Afghan asylum seekers.
“Canada should match other gender-responsive nations by granting refugee status to all Afghan women and girls asylum seekers on its territory, given the pervasive gender persecution they face under the Taliban,” Bennett said in a statement following a working visit to Canada.
In an interview with CBC’s Rosemary Barton Live, Bennett noted that similar measures are already being implemented in parts of Europe and called on Canada to adopt a similar approach, particularly in light of its stated commitment to feminist foreign policy.
Rising Concerns Over Taliban Policies
The deportations come at a time when the Taliban has introduced new policies further restricting women’s freedoms. Critics argue that returning Afghan nationals to such an environment undermines Canada’s stated commitment to human rights and puts vulnerable individuals at risk.
Rights advocates have called for Canada and other nations to provide stronger protections for Afghan refugees, particularly women and girls, as the situation in Afghanistan continues to worsen under Taliban rule.
