Afghan women in Tajikistan face risk of detention and deportation

Afghan women in Tajikistan face risk of detention and deportation
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Afghan women who fled Taliban rule to seek refuge in Tajikistan are now facing arrest and forced deportation, Amu TV reported based on multiple migrants and human rights advocates.

Reports indicate that Tajik authorities have begun conducting sweeps targeting Afghan nationals across the country. Many migrants, including women, are avoiding public spaces out of fear of detention.

Afghan Christian converts who fled Taliban persecution also report threats of detention and deportation. Many warn that returning to Afghanistan could be fatal due to the Taliban’s hostility toward religious minorities.

Tajik authorities have not publicly addressed the detentions or deportations. Afghanistan’s embassy in Dushanbe, staffed by representatives of the former government, has not responded to inquiries about the situation or consular support for migrants.

Between October 2024 and July 2025, at least 485 Afghan nationals were deported from Tajikistan, including 334 registered asylum seekers or refugees. The United Nations has expressed concern about these forced returns, documenting cases of returnees facing detention, torture, and violence by Taliban authorities. Rights groups urge Tajikistan and neighboring countries to halt deportations and protect vulnerable refugees.