Austria deports 2 Afghan sisters to Croatia

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Austria has deported two Afghan and their three young children after they were denied asylum, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The Austrian government decided they should be returned to Croatia because it was their point of entry into the European Union.

Khadija and Zainab Jafari, who had reached Austria in 2016, challenged the decision at the European Court of Justice [ECJ]. The court, however, rejected their plea.

The Afghans were sent at midday on Tuesday to a camp in the Croatian capital Zagreb. The action triggered protests from charities and aid agencies.

Diakonie charity said: "The three children have been well-integrated since their entry to school. We would have wished that Austria would send a positive signal and carry out the asylum procedure itself."

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