The European Parliament in Strasbourg will tomorrow debate the forced return by France and Britain of 27 Afghans to Kabul on a shared charter flight.
The UK's Refugee Council and France's Terre d'Asile have launched a petition against this practice. They say it contravenes the international Refugee Convention, which bans the return of asylum-seekers to a place of danger.
Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:
"There is a heavy onus on EU states to prove that would-be refugees are not being returned to a situation where their lives are under threat. Considering that NATO and EU states are fighting a war in Afghanistan, this is a tall order, if not impossible."
"Rejected asylum-seekers must not just be lumped together and kicked out in breach of their human rights to have an individual assessment of their need for a place of refuge from threats."
"Member States want to be able to make joint return flights but without agreeing a common European asylum policy. Recognition rates vary hugely from one Member State to another. The incoming Commission and new Council President Herman Van Rompuy must make this a priority."
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