Turkey, July 02, 2025 – In recent weeks, following regional tensions, the Iranian government has intensified the mass deportation of Afghan refugees at an unprecedented scale. Every day, thousands of Afghans — including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the sick — are deported without any legal procedures, without individual assessment, and without any consideration for the catastrophic situation in Afghanistan. In just the past week, over 100,000 Afghans have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan. It is estimated that by 2025, over 2 million Afghan refugees will be forcibly deported from Iran.

These actions constitute a blatant violation of the principle of non-refoulement, enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention, and are fundamentally incompatible with basic human rights and universal humanitarian values.

In addition to mass deportations, we have witnessed a sharp increase in arbitrary arrests, politically motivated accusations, physical violence by security forces, widespread verbal abuse in public spaces, and the systematic criminalization of Afghan refugees in Iran. In an unprecedented move, Iranian state media and security authorities have accused Afghan refugees of espionage for Israel — allegations that are baseless, fabricated, and clearly used as a political tool to justify repression and deflect attention from internal crises.

 

Let us remind you: the very same Afghan refugees who are today being displaced and labeled as "spies" were once standing shoulder to shoulder with you. They sacrificed their lives in your regional wars. It was these same young Afghans who, under false promises, were sent to fight on your behalf in Syria as part of the Fatemiyoun Division, defending your interests. Back then, when you held the upper hand, they were called heroes — not spies. But now, with the tide turned and the pressure mounting, you humiliate them, fabricate espionage charges, and pave the way for their forced deportation. This is the height of injustice and exploitation of human beings who have already paid the ultimate price for your policies.

Meanwhile, the fate of deported Afghans after their return is nothing short of catastrophic. Afghanistan remains mired in deep security, economic, educational, and social crises, offering no safe or sustainable conditions for returnees. Reports from international organizations highlight the dire conditions at border points: lack of shelter, malnutrition, outbreaks of dangerous diseases, no mental health support, and widespread sexual violence, particularly against women and children.

As an independent organization advocating for refugee rights, ARSA firmly states the following:

  • Forced deportations, arbitrary detentions, and degrading treatment of Afghan refugees in Iran constitute gross human rights violations and must be stopped immediately.
  • Baseless espionage allegations against Afghan refugees are nothing but tools of repression and political deflection and must be rejected by the international community.
  • The Iranian government is obligated, under international conventions, to protect the human rights, dignity, and safety of Afghan refugees, especially women, children, and vulnerable groups.
  • We urge all world governments, the United Nations, UNHCR, the Red Cross, and human rights organizations to take immediate action to halt forced deportations, provide emergency humanitarian assistance, establish safe and legal pathways for resettlement, and ensure independent monitoring of Iran's treatment of Afghan refugees.
  • The international community must recognize that millions of Afghan refugees have become pawns in Iran's regional policies and domestic repression. This crisis is not an internal matter for Iran or Afghanistan alone; it is a global humanitarian issue that requires urgent international response.

ARSA stands in solidarity with all victims of this crisis and calls upon the global conscience — the media, human rights defenders, and all people of goodwill — do not stay silent in the face of this blatant injustice.

We will not forget, and we will not allow these grave violations of human dignity and refugee rights to go unnoticed.

ARSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants worldwide. Through advocacy, research, and direct support programs, we work tirelessly to create a more inclusive and compassionate world for those fleeing persecution and violence.

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