The outcome: "How safe is Afghanistan?" Oct 4, 2018

The panel discussion. From left Annika Hamrud, Therese Pettersson, Vera Meijerling, William Maley, Anders Fänge and Liza Schuster.

At the conference How safe is Afghanistan? on Oct 4, 2018, a row of respected researchers presented their findings about the security situation in Afghanistan. Representants from non-governmental organisations gave us a view of the diverse asylum policies within EU.

In the program, after each title, you find links to the videos on facebook, ppt-presentations and papers.

You find all videos on youtube.

PPT-presentation in Swedish

The security situation in Afghanistan

All lecturers, of whom several spent many years in Afghanistan, agreed that the European migration authorities underestimate the dangerous situation in Afghanistan, for inhabitants as well as for returnees.

The violence is today unpredictable. No place in Kabul is protected from suicide bombers, and no place in Afghanistan is safe from Taliban attacks. 

Civilians are hit hardest. Schools are bombed, and parents don't dare to send their children to school or let them play outside the home. Returnees without social networks face very difficult lives.

Professor William Maley described the situation since the cold war, and how the interventions from west rather decrease the possibilities for a sustainable peace.  Facebook live   Youtube 

Therese Pettersson showed that Afghanistan is expected to be the most dangerous country of the world in 2018.  Facebook live   Youtube

Liza Schuster described how Kabul has changed the last years, and the impossible situation for deportees.  Facebook live    Youtube 

Abdul Ghafoor told us about every day’s life in Kabul and the difficulties to support the deportees.  Facebook live   Youtube 

Anders Fänge showed how impossible it is to hide from the enemies, may it be relatives, neighbours or talibans.  Facebook live   Youtube  

Niamatullah Ibrahimi said that there are three reasons to stop deportations to Afghanistan:

-     - Legal reason, as deportations of Hazaras are crimes against article 33 of the refugee convention, 1951*.

-     - Moral reasons, as we have a moral responsibility for those who has been involved in international or governmental work and now are threatened.

-     - Humanitarian reasons, as social and economic conditions in Afghanistan are deteriorating.
Facebook live   Youtube  

* "No Contracting State shall expel or return ('refouler’) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion."

Recent articles are added at Background. 

Sweden has the toughest asylum policy in Europe

In comparison with other EU-countries, Sweden belong to those with the hardest assessments of refugee reasons. In 2017, Sweden gave residence permits to 37 % of the afghan asylum seekers, compared to France 84 % and Italy 92 %. In 2014, 67 % were allowed to stay, and in 2018 only 32 %.

Sweden has had a generous asylum policy when it comes to bigger groups from exposed countries, like Syria. For individual assessments it has always been much more difficult. Today, the demands on evidence are often impossible to fulfill, also for those who have strong individual asylum reasons.