A Swiss court has ruled that deportations to Afghanistan may be permissible under specific conditions. The ruling marks a potential shift in the country's migration policy.
Deportations of certain Afghan asylum seekers are once again possible, provided their individual circumstances are deemed favorable, a Swiss Federal Administrative Court in the city of St. Gallen ruled.
According to a press release published by the court on Wednesday (August 19), the judges rejected the appeal of a young Afghan asylum seeker after reassessing the security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
The ruling specifically concerned the case of a young Afghan man whose asylum application was rejected by Swiss migration authorities at the end of 2025.
In its judgment, the court clarified that deportation to any part of Afghanistan could be permissible if the individual possesses favorable personal circumstances, such as work experience and a robust family support network.
In this specific case, the judges argued that the man's ties in the Afghan capital Kabul made his return permissible.
According to the press release, the judgment is final and cannot be appealed to Austria's Federal Supreme Court.
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A policy shift
For years, Switzerland had maintained strict limits on deportations to Afghanistan due to the volatile security environment, Swiss broadcaster SRF reported. This latest court decision signals a potential change in approach, aligning Switzerland more closely with other European nations that have reconsidered their stance on returns.
Germany, for instance, has already resumed deportations, returning more than 200 Afghan nationals. German officials have reportedly engaged in technical-level cooperation with the Taliban to facilitate these flights, despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition of the regime.
Concerns from human rights groups
The move has sparked sharp criticism from non-governmental organizations, according to SRF. Amnesty International and other human rights groups have warned that returning individuals to Afghanistan places them at significant risk of human rights violations and physical harm.
Advocates argue that the humanitarian situation remains dire across much of the country and that "favorable personal circumstances" do not guarantee safety in an environment where fundamental rights are systematically suppressed.
with SRF