KABUL, Afghanistan — A prominent Afghan women’s rights group is demanding compensation from Iran over a deadly incident involving Afghan migrants at the Kalagan-Saravan border.
The group, known as the Purple Saturday Movement, led by Maryam Marouf Arwin, held indoor protests in both Kabul and Tehran, calling for Iran to be held accountable for the incident, in which two Afghan migrants were confirmed dead.
The movement urged Iran to address allegations of mistreatment and racism against Afghan migrants, appealing to international human rights organizations to launch an independent investigation into the full scale of the casualties.
“We demand immediate compensation for the grieving families, assistance to the injured, and the repatriation of the victims’ bodies to Afghanistan,” a member of the Purple Saturday Movement said. “While these steps alone cannot deliver full justice, they are essential for holding Iran accountable.”
The statement from the group included accusations that the Taliban may be underreporting the incident’s toll to maintain favorable relations with Iran. The group called on the United Nations and other human rights organizations to oversee a transparent investigation, suggesting that an independent committee be formed to examine the incident in full.
A representative of the Purple Saturday Movement also highlighted the rising issue of human trafficking along the Iran-Afghanistan border, alleging that the “black market” trade is being fueled by traffickers and “elements within the Iranian government.” Afghan migrants, the group said, continue to pay a heavy price — both in lost lives and financial exploitation.
The incident has sparked significant outrage among Afghan migrants in Iran, who report increasing mistreatment and negative propaganda against them. Tensions heightened last month after reports surfaced alleging that Iranian border guards opened fire on Afghan migrants near Kalagan and Saravan. The Taliban later confirmed that two migrants had died and 34 others were injured, though Iran has denied any involvement. The Taliban’s investigation remains ongoing, with no response yet from Iran regarding the preliminary findings.
