Moral Exclusion, Dehumanisation, and Continued Resistance to Return: Experiences of Refused Afghan Asylum Seekers in the Netherlands

This paper examines how policies that deny the basic provision of shelter, food, and clothing to refused asylum seekers impact these individuals’ lived experiences their decision-making regarding return migration. A key policy argument for removal government assistance in Netherlands is will be more likely accept enter procedures when they are not given provisions. contests this claim. Through 40 interviews with Afghan Netherlands, first explores embodied effects state practices dehumanisation seekers. Second, demonstrates that, despite experiencing dehumanised conditions Afghanistan strongly resisted by who consider an impossible unacceptable outcome. The analysis centres as a actor within geopolitics governance highlights resistance coercion. results conclude human rights should protected welfare considered separate issue from enforcing returns.