Dutch Court Rules Against Asylum for Afghan Guards
THE HAGUE, Netherlands - A Dutch court has steadfast the Netherlands is not obligated to provide asylum to 42 Afghan guards who previously worked at the Dutch embassy in Kabul, rejecting a legal challenge brought by the former employees. The ruling,delivered today,centers on the courtS assessment that the guards’ circumstances differ significantly from those of Afghans directly employed by the Netherlands and evacuated following the Taliban takeover.
The case hinged on whether the security personnel, hired through a private company, qualified for the Netherlands’ evacuation assistance program. While acknowledging reports of potential danger faced by the guards – including allegations of torture – the court found that their status as residents of the European Union, granting them existing access to the bloc, distinguished them from those in immediate peril and lacking alternative routes to safety.The judgment also notes that the guards are now located not only in Afghanistan but also in neighboring Pakistan and Iran.
The court specifically dismissed the Netherlands’ argument that it had evacuated Hungarian guards, stating they, as EU residents, already possessed avenues for relocation. “So they where not in the same situation as the Afghan guards,” the ruling stated. Nieuwsuur previously reported on the plight of one of the guards, who described experiencing torture. The outcome leaves the future of the 42 Afghan guards uncertain, as they navigate ongoing instability and potential threats in the region.
