The Emirati deportation plan
The senior official confessed that his country planned to deport the remaining 25 Afghans before July 20, thus "definitively" closing this chapter. The request included that the United States cooperate in managing public perception to avoid criticism from human rights organizations.
According to al-Zaabi, the families returned voluntarily due to the exhaustion of waiting for a solution. However, two sources familiar with the case contradicted that version, stating that Emirati authorities were forcing the refugees to sign voluntary deportation letters under threat of arrest and forced deportation.
