Netherlands allowed to deport Afghani asylum seekers: Council of State

The Netherlands does not have to grant residents of Afghanistan asylum, because the country is safe enough to return to, the Council of State ruled on Wednesday. The highest administrative judge in the Netherland agreed with a previous ruling by the court in The Hague, RTL Nieuws reports.

This lawsuit was filed by an Afghani man whose asylum application was rejected by the State Secretary of Justice and Security. According to the man, the security situation in his country, and especially in the Ghanzi province, is so bad that he would be in danger if he is sent back.

The Council of State recognized that the security situation in Afghanistan is "worrisome". But ruled that it is not so bad that a citizen will be at risk simply because of his presence there. The Council based its ruling on reports and documents from various organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland.

On Wednesday at least 26 people were killed in an attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul, according to the broadcaster. A terrorist blew himself up at a Shiite sanctuary in the city, where festivities were underway due to the start of the Persian New Year.