KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has once again criticized the European Union’s plan to hold talks with the Taliban in Brussels, saying the move would insult Afghans, especially women.
Bennett made the remarks in a post on X while reposting a statement by Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, who criticized a new European Union regulation aimed at speeding up deportations of migrants and asylum seekers.
“I endorse this statement by Volker Turk regretting a new EU regulation allowing speedy deportations,” Bennett wrote. “Respect for human rights and refugee law is imperative. Afghans must not be returned to an unsafe situation.”
“A meeting with Taliban in Brussels would insult Afghans, especially women,” he added.
The remarks come as the European Union prepares to host a Taliban delegation in Brussels for what officials have described as technical discussions on deportation procedures for Afghan nationals whose asylum claims have been rejected or who have been convicted of crimes in EU member states.
EU officials have confirmed that an invitation has been extended to the Taliban, though they have not released details on timing or format.
The planned talks have drawn sharp criticism from rights groups, U.N. experts, Afghan women and activists, and several European lawmakers, who say direct engagement with the Taliban risks granting legitimacy to a regime accused of widespread human rights abuses.
Bennett’s comments echo broader concerns raised by Turk regarding the European Parliament’s approval on June 17 of the new EU Regulation on Returns. The legislation expands the use of pre-removal detention and permits EU member states to establish “return hubs” in third countries to accelerate deportations.
In a statement on Saturday, Türk said he was “deeply regretful” over the adoption of the measure and urged EU member states to ensure that its implementation complies fully with international human rights and refugee law.
“International human rights law and refugee law are very clear: no one should be returned to a place where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm,” Turk said. “This is the fundamental principle of non-refoulement. It must be fully respected by all countries and all territories under all circumstances.”
Afghanistan under Taliban rule continues to face one of the world’s gravest humanitarian and human rights crises. Women and girls remain largely barred from public life, including secondary and higher education and most forms of employment. Reports of arbitrary detentions, mysterious killings, and other abuses persist. Nearly half of the country’s population, mostly women and children, depends on international aid for survival.
