Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, on Monday called for an independent investigation into the killing of two members of Afghanistan’s former security forces in Iran, saying those responsible must be identified and held accountable.
Bennett said he was “deeply concerned” by the deaths of Ikramuddin Saree and Mohammad Amin Almas, former members of the country’s security forces, who were killed last week in Tehran.
“These crimes should be independently investigated and perpetrators identified and brought to justice,” Bennett said in a statement on social media.
The killings have also drawn concern from the Coordination Council of Afghanistan’s former diplomatic and consular missions, which warned of a rise in targeted attacks against former members of the country’s security forces.
In a statement, the council said that despite repeated assurances of a general amnesty following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, former security personnel continue to face serious threats, including while living in exile.
Gen. Ikramuddin Saree served as police chief in several provinces under the previous government, including Nuristan, Baghlan and Takhar, and held his last post until shortly before the collapse of the former government. After leaving Afghanistan, he moved to Iran, where associates say he assisted former security personnel with documentation and residency matters.
Iran’s foreign ministry has said that an investigation is underway into the incident.
