Afghan refugees ill-treated by Iranian Police: Returnees

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Some Afghan refugees who recently returned from Iran have complained about the maltreatment of Iranian police and said Afghan immigrants in Iran were beaten, detained and forcibly deported.

Mohammad Raza, one of the Afghans told Pajhwok Afghan News, about a year ago, he went to Iran with his family, but a few days ago, Iran's security forces made him cross the border without his family members.

He said the attitude of the Iranian police was against moral and human standards and an Afghan immigrant were not treated like a human being.

He asked the government to investigate the issue of the Iranian police's mistreatment of Afghans living in that country through diplomatic channels and talk to the authorities of Iran in this regard.

Another Afghan refugee who travelled to Iran by visa also complained against the maltreatment of Iranian police and said he stayed in Iran for 16 days legally but still he was deported from Iran.

He also asked the government to seriously review the wrong treatment of Afghans in Iran, especially the situation of labour because those who visit the neighboring country legally also faced with maltreatment.

“We travelled by passport but it has no benefit, we were arrested and sent back,” he said.

Naseer Ahmad, the resident of Farah province who last week expelled from Iran demanded investigation into problems faced by Afghans in that country

On the other hand, experts in social issues also believe that in order to prevent illegal immigration, suitable employment and living conditions must be created and provided by the government inside Afghanistan.

Mohammad Muslim Maravi, one of the social affairs experts, said migration is due to poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan. If the government was able to generate jobs and other occupations most problems of Afghan refugees would be addressed.

Abdullah Qayyumi, deputy head of Refugees Department in Herat, said daily up to 3,000 individuals entered Afghanistan via Islam Qala, all of these people are not refugees but they are passengers as well.

He said refugees are referred to the Committees and offices of IOM and UNHCR so that necessary support is provided to them.

He said in order to address refugees related issues; the matter was shared with the Ministry of Refugees.

Afghan government also asked the Iranian government to deal with Afghan refugees in line with the Islamic and international laws.

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