LONDON: Reports have surfaced that Afghan Taliban members are now selling fake threat letters to Afghan citizens for £40, enabling them to use the letters as evidence when applying for asylum in European countries.
According to an investigative report by The Telegraph, Afghan refugees arriving in Europe are utilizing fake death threat letters, allegedly issued by the Taliban, as part of their asylum applications. These letters, which claim the refugees are in danger due to their alleged cooperation with foreign governments, are being used to support claims of life-threatening persecution in Afghanistan.
The report states that corrupt Afghan officials are charging money in exchange for these fake letters, which are then submitted by asylum seekers to prove that they face danger in their home country. A Telegraph reporter conducted a sting operation and obtained fake letters from local administrators in three different Afghan regions, each signed by Taliban officials, for the equivalent of £40 (approximately 3,500 Afghanis).
The letters warn recipients that they will face punishment for collaborating with the “enemy” (such as the British government), and in some cases, threaten the lives of their families. One letter stated that “the Taliban are monitoring your social media activities, and you will face the law for your ‘shameful’ actions.” Another letter threatened that the recipient’s family was under Taliban surveillance and that they must turn themselves in or face severe consequences.
Interestingly, the letters even specify the name of the country where the Afghan refugee has applied for asylum, further adding to their credibility.
According to the report, there are two types of threat letters available: the standard £40 letter and a “premium” version, which costs £200 (about 17,000 Afghanis). The premium letter carries the official seal of Taliban authorities and is seen as more likely to be accepted by asylum authorities.
The reports point out that the use of these misleading letters on a large scale is negatively affecting the real asylum seekers. Over 100,000 Afghan nationals applied for asylum in the UK during the year 2022, asserting that they had helped the British army or had been fighting with them prior to the Talibans’ comeback to power in 2021. Nonetheless, the report suggests that a significant portion of the claims are untrue, and just a handful of applicants possess the proper basis for obtaining asylum.
Some applicants have reportedly even written their own threat letters in Pashto, knowing that there is no reliable way for authorities to verify them, and the UK’s Home Office often accepts them without question.
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In response to the Telegraph’s inquiry, a Taliban official acknowledged that some local Taliban members were producing these letters without approval from the higher leadership. However, the official clarified that this was illegal and that those caught would face consequences. “We no longer need to issue such letters; we are in power now. Anyone engaging in illegal activity will be arrested,” the official said.
