Multiple videos of Afghan refugees in Iran emerged on social media platforms, showing what appears to be a growing trend of harassment and violence targeted at them, as more and more Afghans seek to escape crisis-hit Afghanistan. Amnesty International has said it has documented several cases of these abuses by the Iranian security forces.

A 30-second viral video, showing a group of Iranian men assaulting an Afghan refugee while Iranian security watches on, outraged Afghans and other rights activists over growing incidents of targeted violence, assault, and humiliation against Afghans in Iran. Another video showed a group of Afghan refugees being brutally beaten by Iranian forces.

The estimated number of Afghan refugees has reached almost five million in Iran, including almost one million who moved since the Taliban’s take over last year, and a large number of them remain undocumented, depriving them of basic rights and other assistance.

Zaman Sultani, a South Asua researcher, told Radio Liberty, “It is horrible, disgusting, and heartbreaking to see videos of how inhumanly Afghan migrants and refugees are being treated in Iran.” She further said, “All uses of violence against Afghans in Iran must be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice.”

Iran, which has repeatedly highlighted the challenge of growing refugees, seems to be hardening its border control measures, including the use of violence, threat, and intimidation.

“It has resulted in pushbacks and injuries and sometimes death of Afghan people, which violates international law," Sultani was quoted as saying by Radio Liberty.

Amid the growing outrage over the mistreatment of Afghans, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid has urged the Iranian authorities “not to harass Afghan refugees” and avoid forcibly deporting them. Reports suggest around 3000 Afghans are being forcibly deported daily by Iran.

Faizanullah Nasiri, another senior Taliban official at its Foreign Ministry, met with Iranian diplomats in the embassy in Kabul and discussed the issue with them.

The Iranian Embassy in Kabul, however, downplayed these videos, saying these videos can’t be used to judge the general treatment of Afghan refugees in Iran.

Significantly, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahain last week has sought additional resources from the UN and international organizations to deal with the growing numbers of Afghan refugees.

(SAM)