KABUL — Iran has handed over 149 Afghan prisoners to the Taliban to serve the remainder of their sentences in Afghanistan, according to Askar Jalalian, Iran’s Deputy for Human Rights and International Affairs.
The Islamic Republic Newspaper reported that the transfer was carried out under an agreement between Iran and the Taliban. The prisoners had been held in Sistan and Baluchestan, Semnan, Yazd, and Hormozgan provinces, with most convicted on drug-related charges, Jalalian said.
Jalalian also stated that Iran’s Ministry of Justice’s Prisoner Transfer Committee aims to repatriate more foreign inmates, including nationals from Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Afghanistan, to serve their sentences in their home countries.
The exact number of Afghan prisoners in Iran remains unclear, but rights groups estimate that a significant number are incarcerated across the country.
In recent months, Iran has executed several Afghan citizens on various charges, drawing criticism from human rights organizations. The Taliban have not publicly commented on the fate of transferred prisoners or whether they will serve their full sentences under their rule.
