ISLAM QALA, Afghanistan — Afghan migrants forcibly returned from Iran say they were subjected to mistreatment by Iranian authorities, including the destruction of valid travel documents and extortion by police officers, as Tehran accelerates its deportation campaign in defiance of international calls to halt the expulsions.
Several recently deported Afghans interviewed at the border described chaotic and humiliating treatment. Some alleged that Iranian police tore up passports and forced them out of the country despite holding legal residency or work permits.
“They tear our documents and demand money,” said Arif, a deportee who had been working in Iran. “They say, ‘You owe us because we let you work here.’ But no one listens to our complaints.”
Qasem, another returnee, said he sought help from multiple government offices in Iran. “I told them I came legally, but every time I was told I wasn’t acceptable,” he said.
Deportees also reported having their money taken by authorities during arrest and deportation. “They took everything we had,” said Naser. “There is no justice. We struggled even to get back here.”
Rafiullah, another returnee, added: “What can I say? They still haven’t paid me my wages. The company I worked for threw me out.”
Iran has recently intensified deportations of Afghan migrants, including those with documentation, in what rights groups describe as a crackdown that violates international norms. The forced removals have continued despite repeated calls from human rights organizations and migration agencies urging Tehran to halt the expulsions.
Rights advocates warn that deported Afghans face severe economic hardship upon return, with little access to jobs, healthcare or social support.
Each returning migrant carries a different story — of loss, displacement, and uncertain futures — but the pain, many say, is shared.
