Afghanistan’s interim government on Friday condemned the mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran, urging Tehran to take action to prevent further abuses.
Kabul 24: The Foreign Ministry in Kabul said in a statement that recent events in Iran highlighting the mistreatment of Afghan refugees by Iranian security officials are deeply condemnable. However, the statement made no mention of specific incidents of mistreatment.Kabul expressed gratitude to the Iranian people for their hospitality toward Afghan refugees and appreciated the support provided by Iranian officials.
However, they urged Iranian authorities to take action against those responsible for the recent violations and hold them accountable.According to the UN refugee agency, approximately 4.5 million Afghan refugees are living in Iran.
Afghan Migrants Face Rising Harassment and Violence in Iran
For decades, millions of Afghans fleeing war, persecution, and poverty have sought refuge in neighboring Iran. However, many now face deportation after Tehran recently vowed to expel the 5 million Afghans it said were living “illegally” in the Islamic republic.
Afghan refugees and migrants say the September 27 announcement has triggered a surge in abuse against members of the sizeable Afghan community in Iran, including harassment and assault.
Videos posted on social media appear to show Iranian civilians attacking the homes of Afghans and beating up Afghan refugees.
Parwana, an Afghan refugee living in Tehran, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi, “They are throwing stones at the windows of houses where Afghans live. They shout, ‘Afghans should leave our country and return to their homeland.'”
Human rights groups have documented widespread violations against Afghan refugees and migrants in Iran, including physical abuse, detention in unsanitary conditions, forced labor, and forced separation of families.
An estimated 4.3 million Afghans currently live in Iran, with more than 1 million deported in the past year
Ministry Urges Iran to Respect Refugee Rights
Abdulmutallab Haqqani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told TOLOnews that the mistreatment of Afghan refugees by Iranian police is unacceptable and violates both Islamic and international laws.
He urged Iran to change its approach, saying, “Iran has hosted Afghans for nearly forty years and must continue to act with patience and tolerance to uphold its long-standing hospitality.”
Haqqani emphasized that measures should be taken to prevent elements that seek to create tensions between Iran and Afghanistan, which could harm the relations between the two countries
Refugee rights activists stress the need to address and resolve the situation of Afghan refugees in Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey.
Asifa Stanikzai, a migrant rights activist, said, “To solve the problems of Afghan refugees in these countries, diplomatic dialogues involving Afghanistan, the host countries, and international organizations must be initiated to develop long-term strategic plans.”
