Afghan Boxer Faces Trial in Athens After Asylum Claim Rejected by Greek Authorities

An Afghan boxer who trained with a professional club in Athens after fleeing the Taliban regime is now facing trial in a Greek court on charges that human rights lawyers describe as politically motivated. The case has drawn attention to Greece's increasingly strict asylum policies toward Afghan nationals, which rights groups say have led to numerous cases of refoulement — the illegal practice of returning refugees to countries where they face persecution.

A Sporting Life Under Threat

The boxer, whose name has been withheld at the request of his legal team for security reasons, was a member of the Afghan national boxing team before the Taliban's return to power in 2021. He fled to Greece via Iran and Turkey, arriving in 2022 and applying for asylum based on threats to athletes who had competed internationally under the previous government. His application was denied on the grounds that he did not meet the specific criteria for refugee status under Greek law.

Rights Groups Call for Intervention

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both issued statements calling on the Greek government to reconsider the case and halt any deportation. They note that Afghan athletes, particularly those who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and other international events, face severe risk of persecution or death if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The Greek government defended its asylum procedures as consistent with EU law but said it would review the case following international pressure.