France/Afghanistan - refugee expulsions

France defends expulsion of Afghan refugees

Article published on the 2009-12-16 Latest update 2009-12-16 10:12 TU

Demonstrators in Lille protest against the deportations
(Photo: Reuters)

France has defended its decision to send home a number of Afghan refugees amid a hail of criticism from human rights groups.

In the latest of a series of expulsions which have followed the September closure of an immigrant squatter camp in Calais near the English Channel, nine Afghans sent back by France landed in Kabul on Wednesday. In October three Afghans from France and 24 from Britain were repatriated.

The Immigration Ministry declined to comment but on Tuesday presidential chief of staff Claude Guéant defended the policy of sending migrants back to Afghanistan.

"The United Kingdom sends back more than 1,000 Afghans to their country every year, with the agreement of the European human rights commission," he told RTL radio. "I don't see why France should not do so too."

Prime Minister François Fillon also defended the expulsions, saying France had made commitments to Britain, the desired destination for many migrants passing through France.

The refugees' aid group Cimade, however, has called on the government to reverse the decision, while anti-racism campaign group SOS Racisme urged the government to "stop the shameful charter flights immediately".

Police in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom) have detained 29 Afghans on the border with Greece. They included 16 minors with one as young as eight.

An Interior Ministry statement said the Afghans were hidden in a truck underneath cases of oranges. They were holding false temporary Greek residence papers.

Police have charged the driver who claims he had had no idea the Afghans were hiding in his truck, which had been parked unattended awaiting loading in the Greek port Patras.

The immigrants have been sent to the transition centre in Fyrom.