The situation of detained Afghans stuck in limbo in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a pressing human rights issue that demands immediate international attention. The Washington Center for Human Rights condemns the inhumane treatment of these individuals and calls upon the United Nations (UN) and the United States (US) to take immediate action to ensure that their human rights are upheld.
As of February 2023, there are an estimated 15,000 Afghan nationals detained in the UAE, many of whom have been held in detention centers for months or even years without trial. These individuals have been arrested on a range of charges, including illegal entry, overstaying their visas, and working without the proper documentation. While some of these individuals may have committed immigration violations, it is unacceptable for them to be held indefinitely without due process and in conditions that violate their basic human rights.
Reports from individuals who have been released from detention centers in the UAE paint a disturbing picture of the conditions in which these individuals are being held. Detainees are often housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with limited access to food, water, and medical care. Many have reported physical and verbal abuse by guards, as well as instances of torture and sexual assault.
In addition to the physical and emotional harm suffered by detained Afghans, they are also facing significant legal and financial challenges. Without access to legal representation or due process, they are unable to challenge their detention or seek asylum in other countries. Many detainees have also been forced to pay exorbitant fines and fees to the UAE government, further exacerbating their financial instability and insecurity.
The situation of detained Afghans in the UAE has only been exacerbated by recent political and social developments in Afghanistan. The Taliban takeover in August 2021 and subsequent unrest in the country has made it increasingly difficult for detainees to return to their home country or seek asylum elsewhere. The UAE government has used this instability as a justification for continuing to detain these individuals, despite the fact that many of them pose no security threat and are simply seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
The Washington Center for Human Rights urges the UN and the US to take immediate action to address the situation of detained Afghans in the UAE. We call upon the UN to conduct an independent investigation into the conditions in detention centers and to hold the UAE government accountable for any human rights violations. We also call upon the US to use its diplomatic channels to pressure the UAE government to release these individuals and ensure that they are granted due process and access to legal representation.
In addition to these immediate actions, the Washington Center for Human Rights also calls for a long-term solution to this issue. The international community must work together to address the root causes of immigration and refugee crises, including poverty, conflict, and political instability. This requires a commitment to human rights and social justice, as well as a recognition of the global nature of these issues.
As an organization committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, the Washington Center for Human Rights stands in solidarity with detained Afghans in the UAE. We demand that their human rights be respected and upheld, and that they be released from detention centers and granted the opportunity to seek asylum and a better life for themselves and their families.