A women’s movement, Junbish-e-Hamasa Afareen Zanaan, in a statement on Monday called on Iran to adopt humane solutions for Afghan refugees and respect human rights in response to the forced deportations of the migrants.
In the statement, the movement emphasized that Afghan refugees fled to Iran due to the unstable and critical situation in Afghanistan.
“The Afghan Women’s Epic Movement believes that refugees from Afghanistan, due to the crisis in their home country, are in urgent need of greater humanitarian support and more thorough attention to their dire living conditions in Iran,” the statement said.
The movement acknowledged that policies of forced deportation may be implemented due to a country’s internal needs but stressed that such actions should be carried out with respect for human rights and in accordance with international law.
The resolution called on Iran to halt the forced deportation of Afghan refugees and to honor its international commitments under refugee conventions. “Iran should create appropriate mechanisms and legal facilities to ensure safe and dignified residence for Afghan refugees,” the statement said.
The group also urged global organizations, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other human rights bodies, to work with the Iranian government to find sustainable and humane solutions for Afghan migrants.
This appeal comes as Iran has intensified the forced deportation of Afghan refugees and, in separate directives, banned Iranian employers from hiring Afghan migrants. In a recent development, Iran also issued orders prohibiting bakeries from selling bread to undocumented Afghan migrants.