Belgium Considers Deporting About 60 Afghan Prisoners After Their Sentences
Belgium's asylum minister said roughly 60 Afghans serving time could be sent back to Afghanistan once they finish their sentences, pending legal review.
Around 60 Afghan nationals currently incarcerated in Belgium may face deportation after completing their prison terms, according to Minister for Asylum and Migration Annelies Van Bossuyt. She explained to the Belgian Parliament that the prisoners do not have legal residency and that several have been sentenced for grave offenses, including rape and murder. The authorities are addressing practical issues such as confirming identities and securing travel papers, while stressing that cooperation with Afghan officials does not constitute endorsement of the Taliban.
The proposed returns are part of a broader policy that saw over 1,200 foreign inmates without legal residence sent home in the first eight months of 2026. Nonetheless, every case must undergo the full Belgian legal process and respect the principle of non-refoulement, which bars sending individuals to places where they risk serious harm.
Why it matters
The plan raises legal and human-rights questions about deporting prisoners to a country with a precarious safety record.
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