Amnesty Protests Taliban Visit to Brussels Amid EU Deportation Talks

Amnesty International and other human rights organizations staged a protest in Brussels on Wednesday against an upcoming visit by Taliban representatives, who have been invited by the European Commission to negotiate the forced return of Afghan asylum seekers from EU member states. The demonstration took place near the office of Belgian Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt, as reported by VRT NWS.

The Protest and Core Objections

Amnesty spokesperson Eva Davidova warned that engaging with the Taliban on deportation matters risks normalizing a regime responsible for systematic human rights violations. “If you invite representatives of the Taliban to sit together about returns, you risk normalizing a regime that is guilty of serious human rights violations,” Davidova said in an interview on Radio 1.

She drew a clear distinction between diplomatic engagement aimed at improving conditions for Afghans and cooperation on returns. “There is a difference between contact with the Taliban to put pressure on improving the situation for the Afghan population and rolling out the red carpet for cooperation with the Taliban,” Davidova added.

The EU’s Position

The European Commission has invited Taliban officials for what it describes as technical talks regarding the return of Afghan nationals who have been refused permission to stay in the EU. The invitation was made in cooperation with Sweden. According to DW, approximately 20 EU member states and Schengen countries originally requested these consultations in 2025, complaining that of Afghans issued return orders by EU countries in 2024, only 2% were actually sent back.

Commission spokesman Markus Lammert insisted the contacts do not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban. “The invitation to Brussels does not by any means constitute a recognition of the Taliban as the Afghan government,” Lammert said, adding that discussions would focus on “persons who pose a security threat.”

European Parliament Opposition

The planned visit has drawn sharp criticism from members of the European Parliament. As Afghanistan International reported, Vice-President Pina Picierno submitted a written question to the European Commission seeking clarification, asking how the Commission could justify the move while the UN considers forced return of Afghan refugees contrary to international law and the European Court of Justice has rejected deportation of Afghan women.

MEP Hannah Neumann was equally critical, stating: “EU officials rolling out the red carpet for the Taliban in Brussels.” The European Parliament recently adopted a resolution with 480 votes in favor, condemning the Taliban’s penal code and calling for sanctions against Taliban leaders while maintaining a policy of non-recognition.

Belgium’s Delicate Position

Belgium finds itself in an uncomfortable position as host nation for EU institutions. According to Afghanistan International, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Laurens Soenen stated that European institutions decide which meetings to hold and whom to invite, and that denying visas to Taliban members invited by EU institutions would undermine Brussels’s status as an international and diplomatic capital. No visa applications from Taliban members had been received as of June 16.

Belgium previously sent a technical-level mission to Kabul in January 2026 for talks on forced returns, which Minister Van Bossuyt described as a non-political visit with no ministers present, as VRT NWS reported.

The Humanitarian and Legal Context

Amnesty argues that Afghanistan remains unsafe for returns. The organization points to the non-refoulement principle, a cornerstone of international refugee law that prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face serious threats. Under Taliban rule, girls are banned from school after age 12, child marriage is permitted, women cannot move freely without a male guardian, and the European Parliament has described the situation as “gender apartheid.”

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan remains dire. According to OCHA, 3.7 million children face acute malnutrition in 2026, nearly half the population lives in poverty, and 9 out of 10 children lack sufficient food. More than 80 international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, and prominent figures such as Malala Yousafzai have opposed engagement with the Taliban.

What to Watch For

The Taliban visit is expected to take place on June 22-23, though this has not been officially confirmed. The outcome of this controversy could set significant precedents for EU engagement with unrecognized regimes, migration policy, and the balance between human rights principles and pragmatic migration management.