There are probably some 400 girls living in the Netherlands who have to go back to Afghanistan, even though they have become totally ‘westernised’, immigration minister Gerd Leers told MPs in a briefing note on Tuesday.



MPs had asked Leers to find out how many girls faced being sent back to the strict Islamic country following the case of 14-year-old school girl Sahar, who faces deportation even though she has lived in the Netherlands for 10 years.

The minister is currently appealing against a court decision which said Sahar, who wants to become a surgeon, would be at risk if sent back to Afghanistan because of her westernised ways.

Appeals



Of those 400 girls, 100 are still in the appeal process and 300 have no right to stay in the Netherlands, Leers said. The figures are estimates, the minister said.

In his note, Leers states that a large number of women and girls from Afghanistan have been given asylum in the Netherlands because of the ‘worrying situation’ for them in their home country.

Up to now, 830 girls and 2600 adult women have been refused asylum here, the minister said.

The appeal will be heard on March 30.

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