Reports indicate that the Iranian government has demolished homes belonging to Afghan migrants in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, where they had lived for 10 to 40 years. This move has caused alarm in the Afghan community in Iran, highlighting the challenges they face despite long-term residency. Many migrants now fear the loss of their homes and livelihoods.
According to migrants in the area, authorities recently destroyed around 200 homes in the “Aabshourak” neighborhood. These individuals claim they had legally purchased their land from Iranian citizens and have lived in Iran for decades, holding documents such as Amayesh cards (temporary IDs), smart school cards, and census registrations. Despite adhering to legal procedures, including investing under new Iranian laws, their homes were unexpectedly demolished.
Anonymous sources revealed that land purchases ranged from 300 to 350 million tomans (around 17 million Afghanis), with migrants also investing up to 900 million tomans (approximately 40 million Afghanis) to construct their homes. Faiz Ahmad (a pseudonym), who has lived in the area for over 12 years, expressed frustration, explaining that the land was inherited property sold by local Iranians. He described the demolitions as unjust and ignored their legal documents.
Faiz Ahmad stated, “We paid for the land and invested significant amounts to build our homes, but the government has now demolished more than 200 houses.”
Another migrant whose home was destroyed confirmed that none of the residents had lived in the area for fewer than 10 years and that authorities gave just 20 minutes to remove belongings. “They demolished over 200 homes; we’ve all lived here for 10 to 40 years with legal documents. Even with Amayesh cards and registered investments, they brought bulldozers and gave us 20 minutes,” he said, adding that trees were also cut down during the process.
Videos shared with Hasht-e Subh Daily show Afghan migrant homes reduced to rubble, with further demolitions underway. One migrant, recording from the debris of his house, remarked, “This is the Iranian government demolishing our homes as if facing an enemy.”
This demolition follows previous instances of reported mistreatment of Afghan citizens by Iranian police, including harassment and public abuse. Earlier, Iran’s Ministry of Interior had banned Afghan refugees from 16 key provinces and imposed restrictions on 12 others, also announcing plans to expel up to two million Afghan migrants by March 2025.
Afghan migration to Iran spans generations, with many refugees born and raised there, yet their legal status remains insecure. Despite contributing to Iran’s economy with significant investments, Afghan migrants continue to face difficult conditions. The exact number of Afghan migrants is estimated at over five million, according to Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and the National Migration Organization.