Iran's Practices Towards Afghan Refugees
- Oral Toğa
- Dec 24, 2023
- 3 min read
The Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced last month that Iran had deported some 7,000 Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan. Similarly, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported in July that Iran had detained and deported 65 percent of refugees who had recently entered the country. This continues an upward trend over the past two years. Last year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also reported that more than one million Afghans were deported during the year. Considering Afghanistan's population of about 40 million, the magnitude of these numbers becomes clear.
In addition to these deportations, videos of violence against Afghan refugees in Iran have been circulating on social media since April. Tensions are also rising within communities, with refugees caught at the border facing harsh treatment. For example, recent comments by Mohammad Taki Irani, Bushehr's deputy governor for political, security, and social affairs, have sparked controversy. Irani warned that "honorable" citizens of the province should not rent houses or land to refugees, or provide them with housing assistance or help in finding jobs, under threat of law enforcement intervention and penalties for those who do not report these individuals. In addition, across Iran, police patrols have increased in areas with high refugee populations; road checkpoints have become more frequent, leading to the detention and deportation of Afghans traveling without documentation.
Interviews with local sources suggest that this Iranian pressure, combined with deteriorating economic conditions in Afghanistan, is leading to an increase in the number of Afghan refugees in Turkey. Most Afghans arriving in Turkey have lived or worked in Iran for between five months and 20 years, having traveled from Afghanistan through Iran. Typically, the youngest family members are sent to Iran or Turkey to earn money. These young people, usually single males, work in certain sectors in Iran and, when they face difficulties, choose to move to Turkey.
Afghan refugees in Pakistan face similar pressures. Many refugees find their documents not renewed or canceled, increasing the number of those living illegally and deprived of their legal rights in Pakistan. As a result, there have been protests in both countries. For example, on April 19, dozens of refugees in Islamabad gathered in front of the UNHCR office with banners reading, "Either kill us or save us from this misfortune. Similar protests have taken place in Iran, sometimes turning violent. In early April, protesters threw stones at the Iranian consulate in Herat and chanted "Death to Iran," sparking anger among Iranians and new tensions between the two countries.
Iranian and Pakistani authorities treat the refugee issue as a matter of national security and have stepped up deportations. Pakistan has completed 94% of the construction of its border fence with Afghanistan. In addition, between the end of 2021 and February 2022, about 100 Afghans attempting to enter Iran through key border crossings such as Zerenc and Islam Qala were killed and 460 injured by Iranian security forces. According to the families of the victims, the injured were mistreated by border guards.
The Afghan refugee issue has been a fluctuating concern for Iran for 40 years. Iran's recent crackdown is causing established refugees to seek new opportunities. It's likely that those unwilling to return to their country will leave Iran and Pakistan for Turkey. Turkey, which has already tightened its border security and accelerated deportations, is likely to see a smaller influx than in previous years.
This article was originally published in Turkish by the Center for Iranian Studies (IRAM) on October 24, 2022.
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