The Coordination Council of Afghanistan Political and Consular Representatives has called for a transparent investigation into the mistreatment of an Afghan migrant by Iranian authorities, labeling the treatment as “inhumane” and “non-Islamic,” and contrary to human rights and principles of good neighborly relations.
In a recent statement, the council condemned the actions of Iranian police, particularly in light of reports from Iranian media that Afghan deportees, including women and teenagers, are being detained under harsh conditions.
The call for investigation follows the circulation of a video on social media showing an Iranian police officer kneeling on the neck of a teenage Afghan migrant. The video sparked widespread outrage among Afghan politicians and human rights defenders.
Afghan diplomatic missions abroad have urged Iranian authorities to uphold human rights and respect the dignity of Afghan migrants. “While we appreciate the Islamic Republic of Iran’s decades-long hospitality to millions of Afghan migrants, we call on Iranian authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into this tragic incident and take sufficient measures to prevent such actions in the future,” the council’s statement read.
Afghan migrants in Iran have also criticized what they describe as discriminatory behavior by Iranian police, noting their struggles with a lack of access to basic needs. “Here in the Islamic Republic of Iran, we Afghans endure a lot of struggles, oppressive, and disrespectful behavior from some Iranians, especially from government officials,” one Afghan migrant told Amu.
In the past two weeks, two incidents involving Afghan migrants in Iran have provoked strong reactions. The first involved the arrest and attempted deportation of Kobra Gholami, an Afghan activist and researcher based in Iran. Iranian authorities reportedly targeted Gholami for violating the country’s strict hijab laws. Although her deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan was later canceled, the incident drew significant criticism.
The second incident, involving Sayed Mahdi Mosavi, a teenage Afghan migrant, drew widespread condemnation after a video showed an Iranian police officer kneeling on Mosavi’s neck. The footage sparked outrage both in Afghanistan and internationally.
Abdul Hameed, a prominent Sunni imam in Zahedan, also condemned the mistreatment of Afghan migrants by Iranian security forces. “The recent incident involving one of the migrants, as well as another involving girls, which became widely publicized globally, is damaging our country’s reputation,” he said. “Many around the world say that such incidents are far from civilized. Our advice to officials is to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.”
Iranian media reports indicate that the deportation of Afghan migrants has intensified recently. While the exact number of Afghan migrants in Iran is uncertain, Iran’s Interior Ministry previously estimated that six million Afghan nationals are currently residing in the country.
