As conflicts escalate between Iran and Israel, Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, has called for urgent efforts to protect the more than five million Afghans living in Iran.
In a statement posted on X, Bennett expressed concern about the deteriorating security environment, noting that many Afghans in Iran fear for their safety. “I share the concerns of Mai Sato, UN special rapporteur in Iran, and wish to highlight the situation of 5 million+ Afghans, including refugees, in Iran who fear for their safety. I echo calls for restraint on both sides and respect for international law and urge efforts to protect civilians, including refugees.”
His comments follow reports from Afghan women’s protest movements, which say that dozens of Afghan refugee families in Tehran have been forced to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere in the country following recent Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.
In separate statements, these women’s groups said that many of the displaced refugees include human rights defenders, female protesters, and other vulnerable individuals who fled Taliban persecution and cannot safely return to Afghanistan. They warned that those now displaced within Iran face severe humanitarian and security challenges, with limited access to basic necessities such as clean water, food, and adequate shelter.
The protest movements have called on international organizations — particularly the U.N. mission in Iran and global human rights groups — to respond immediately and ensure the provision of emergency assistance, shelter, and protection for the affected refugee families.
