Austria Deports First Afghan Since Taliban Takeover amid Renewed Removal Plans

Austria has deported an Afghan man convicted of serious crimes to Kabul, marking the first such deportation since the Taliban took power in 2021, with plans for more deportations of criminal offenders underway. This move is part of a broader government strategy to combat illegal immigration and counter the far-right Freedom Party's influence by demonstrating a tough stance on crime and asylum policies. While the Austrian government maintains that deportations target only those who have forfeited their right to remain due to criminal offenses, human rights groups like Amnesty International have condemned the policy, citing Afghanistan as an unsafe destination. The deportation policy follows diplomatic engagements between Austrian officials and the Taliban, aimed at facilitating repatriations despite concerns about human rights abuses. Austria has also resumed deportations to Syria and Somalia amid sustained high asylum applications, particularly from Afghanistan and Syria. Critics from opposition parties argue the government's deportation efforts are largely symbolic and have had limited impact on immigration levels.