– Many Afghan fled to Iran after the Taliban takeover in 2021 for fear of reprisals, as the Taliban have been carrying out human rights violations against former Afghan security forces and government officials.
– An estimated 1 million Afghans fled to Iran after 2021, with 4.5 million Afghan refugees now in Iran, though only 750,000 are registered.
– Refugees report increased harassment, detention and deportation by Iranian authorities in the past three years. Videos have shown mistreatment of Afghan refugees.
– Iran wants undocumented foreigners to leave by the end of 2022 amid an economic crisis fueled by sanctions and the migrant influx. They deported 1.3 million in one year.
– Iran has close security-focused ties with the Taliban and handed over the Afghan embassy, seeing the refugees and militants on the border as security threats.
– Refugees live in fear of being deported back to Afghanistan where they could face reprisals given the UN’s documentation of Taliban human rights abuses.
Source: VOA NEWS
