Guardian has reported that the UK government rejected the asylum applications of 26 Afghan women’s rights activists during the last quarter of 2024. According to the report, one applicant was even told that returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan would be “safe.”
Published on Saturday (April 6), the report highlights the case of a woman referred to by the pseudonym Mina, who had worked on projects supported by Western governments to counsel and educate women before the Taliban’s return to power. During her interview with UK immigration authorities, Mina detailed the threats she faced as a result of her activism in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, her asylum application was denied by the UK Home Office.
In the rejection letter, the Home Office wrote: “We do not believe you would face a real risk of persecution, harm, or mistreatment upon return to Afghanistan due to Taliban attention.” The letter also stated: “It is likely that you have a strong support network due to your professional background, and your case does not present any compelling compassionate grounds that would justify leave outside the immigration rules.”
However, The Guardian reported that many of Mina’s former colleagues have either gone into hiding or fled the country, significantly weakening her support network.
Speaking to The Guardian, Mina said:
“I thought my asylum claim would be accepted. I’m from Afghanistan, I’m a woman, and I worked with Western governments. Having my claim rejected was a total shock. Now, I live in fear of being sent back every day. Having a normal life here feels like a dream. Mentally, I’m suffering deeply.”
She added:
“When I arrived here, I felt safe—I thought I finally had a chance at life. In Afghanistan, I wasn’t even seen as a human being. Here, I learned to ride a bicycle—something I wasn’t allowed to do back home. I was truly hopeful that my life was changing, but someone hit pause on my future. I hope someone presses play again.”
According to The Guardian, in the final quarter of 2024, the UK government rejected a total of 2,000 asylum applications from Afghan nationals—including 26 from women. The acceptance rate for Afghan asylum claims in the UK dropped dramatically from 98.5% at the end of 2023 to just 36% by the end of 2024.
Jamie Bell, Mina’s legal representative, told The Guardian:
“It’s shocking that 26 Afghan women had their asylum claims rejected in just three months, but this case is particularly heartbreaking. The Home Office claims that a woman who risked her life defending women’s rights in Afghanistan faces no risk if she returns. That is absurd.”
He emphasized:
“The UK should be proud to offer refuge to people like Mina. This decision is an insult to all those who defended Western values in Afghanistan and can no longer safely return. They must be protected.”
This comes at a time when, under Taliban rule, Afghan women and girls have been stripped of their rights to education, employment, and public participation. Numerous reports have documented arbitrary arrests, torture, abuse, and even sexual violence against women activists held in Taliban detention centers.