In a shocking turn of events, Iran has expelled over 1.5 million Afghans since the beginning of the year, linking many of them to accusations of espionage in light of recent conflict with Israel. Allegations intensified after a brief war in June, leading Iranian authorities to claim national security threats posed by undocumented Afghans residing in Iran.
Ali Ahmad, a former detainee, recounts the abuse he experienced — "They treated us like animals," he tearfully reported, detailing the violence inflicted on him by Iranian officers who accused him of spying. Under these heightened tensions, Afghans in Iran have become targets for public accusations, facing allegations ranging from working for Israel to engaging in drone manufacturing.
These deportations have seen a significant uptick, with daily expulsions reaching around 50,000 individuals according to reports from the United Nations. Many of these Afghans have reported being stripped of their possessions and left destitute upon being sent back to Afghanistan.
Experts are warning that the Iranian government's allegations may be a projection of its own failures, particularly following security breaches exposing vulnerabilities to Israeli intelligence. This has resulted in a climate of fear among Afghan communities in Iran, as whispers of espionage echo through local and state media channels, feeding into existing anti-Afghan sentiment that has been festering for years.
The Iranian regime's attempts to bolster support for the expulsions amid rising tensions have increased public opposition to Afghan migrants, with government narratives painting them as economic burdens or security risks. Dr. Khadija Abbasi emphasizes that previously welcoming attitudes towards Afghans have shifted drastically to hostility, facilitated by systemic misinformation and past abuses linked to Afghan individuals.
Reports also indicate that the Taliban, Afghanistan's ruling body, is struggling to manage the influx of returnees from Iran, creating a dire humanitarian situation in a nation already grappling with crisis due to widespread poverty and instability under Taliban governance. The ongoing demographic shifts present complex challenges, and the flows of returning Afghans could compound existing issues.
As the deportation crisis evolves, human rights advocates find themselves increasingly concerned about the treatment of displaced Afghans, emphasizing the urgent need for a more humane approach to their circumstances. With the Iranian regime facing scrutiny but remaining silent on many inquiries, the plight of Afghan refugees continues to garner attention and urgency from international observers.