In a troubling escalation, Iran has intensified its deportation of Afghan migrants, with reports indicating that hundreds are sent back to Afghanistan daily, often under harsh conditions. Many of these individuals crossed into Iran illegally to escape the brutal rule of the Taliban and the dire humanitarian crises in Afghanistan. Upon arrival in the border town of Islam Qala, deportees have recounted their mistreatment by Iranian authorities, describing their experiences as akin to being treated like criminals.
Yaqub Mohammad, a deportee, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi that Afghan migrants are often rounded up and taken to camps, where they are provided with insufficient food and water. Another deportee, Gul Lalai, shared his experience of being humiliated and beaten at a police station in Iran before his expulsion. According to Taliban officials, the rate of deportations has surged recently, with estimates suggesting that up to 3,000 Afghans are sent back from Iran every day, totaling over half a million deportations this year alone.
This rise in deportations coincides with growing anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran, exacerbated by the influx of Afghan refugees following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Iranian police chief Ahmad Reza Radan recently announced plans to expel approximately 2 million Afghans by March 2025, aligning with a new legislative proposal aimed at reducing the number of migrants, primarily Afghans, living in the country by 10% annually.
The situation for Afghans in Iran has become increasingly precarious, with reports of discriminatory practices such as bans on purchasing subsidized bread in Kerman Province, where a significant Afghan community resides. Iranian military forces have also taken measures to secure the eastern border, which serves as the main entry point for migrants and refugees from Afghanistan.
Amid these challenges, there has been a notable rise in harassment and abuse against Afghans in Iran. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue regarding illegal migrants and cautioned against policies that could exacerbate anti-migrant sentiment. However, incidents of violence, such as a widely circulated video of an Afghan teenager being violently subdued by police, have sparked outrage and drawn attention to the plight of Afghans living in Iran.
Human rights activists and Afghan expatriates have voiced their concerns over the increasing pressure and discrimination faced by Afghans. Hudaya Sahibzada, an Afghan human rights activist, urged Iranian authorities to halt the deportation of Afghans, particularly those who are at risk of Taliban retribution. The forcible expulsion of refugees, including journalists and former soldiers, poses significant dangers, as many deportees face threats to their safety upon returning to Afghanistan.