An Austrian newspaper quoted a Taliban spokesperson as saying on Monday (August 30) that the Taliban government in Afghanistan will accept any Afghan immigrants whose asylum applications are rejected in Europe, and then they will face trial in court.
The Austrian conservative-led government takes a hard line against Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in the European Union. The Interior Minister initially stated that Austria should deport rejected asylum seekers back to Afghanistan for as long as possible.
The Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer later admitted that this was no longer possible, but stated that he hoped to establish “deportation centers” in neighboring countries to receive them.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper that his government is willing to accept these deported people.
“Yes. They will be taken to court. Then, the court will have to decide how to deal with them,” when asked whether it will accept an asylum application in Germany or Austria that was rejected or an Afghan seeker who committed crimes in these European countries When taking shelter, Zabi Hula told the newspaper.
He did not elaborate on why they should be taken to court or what kind of sentence they might face there.
He also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to respect women’s rights within the framework of Islamic law or Sharia law.
“We will ensure all the rights that women enjoy under Islamic law,” Zabihullah said.
“We will grant women Islamic rights, promote education and create working conditions. We are putting all of this in place.”
