Increasing violence against Afghan refugees in Iran

In recent days, images and videos have been circulating on social media showing Iranian soldiers torturing and insulting Afghan refugees. Although the authenticity of these videos has not been confirmed and the date of their recording is not clear, Iranian law enforcement officials and Afghan immigrants can be identified in them.

Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International's representative in South Asia, said: "The findings of this organization show that immigrants in Iran do not live in a good situation. He added that Afghans were being forced to flee the country because of human rights abuses by the Taliban, "but are facing other violence in Iran, including insults, humiliation and beatings by Iranian border guards." He added that such an approach is a violation of human rights.

Following the recent stabbing of three Shiite clerics in Mashhad, Afghan refugees living in the country say violence and ill-treatment have increased. Although Iranian officials have not formally identified the suspects, some local officials first identified them as Afghans and then Uzbeks.

Iran's foreign minister told a Chinese meeting that his country was hosting about five million Afghan refugees. According to the Afghan Ministry of Refugees, thousands of Afghan refugees have returned from Iran in recent weeks, many of whom have been forcibly deported.

Source and Credit: AA, DW