Genuine refugees seeking asylum in the European Union could suffer due to tighter security measures imposed after the attacks on the United States, Amnesty International said.
"This crisis and the need for more security will make it easier to be more restrictive," Mr Dick Oosting, director of Amnesty International in Brussels, said.
Amnesty today released a report criticising the EU asylum policy of keeping refugees out, rather than protecting those fleeing from war and persecution.
An example cited in the report was the EU's readmission agreements with many countries, which Amnesty described as trading human beings in exchange for financial aid.
The report also condemned politicians and media for using language that reduced genuine asylum seekers to illegal immigrants, seemingly threatening social stability and national security.
Mr Oosting cricised statements made by politicians in Europe and Australia after the attacks suggesting some asylum seekers could be possible terrorists.
The Amnesty report also included a plea to European leaders to show moral leadership and to express a clear, explicit and unequivocal commitment to the right to asylum in the EU.
The EU has pledged full support for the United States's war against terrorism and last week adopted a series of urgent measures to boost internal security, including tighter border controls and tougher visa regimes.