The Human Rights Defenders Network, a coalition of human rights activists both within and outside Afghanistan, has called on the international community and the United Nations to urgently intervene to reduce and address tensions and “inhumane treatment” of Afghan migrants and refugees in Iran.
The organization, based in Geneva, issued a statement urging Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to promptly assess the situation of Afghan migrants and visit Tehran to discuss the issue with Iranian officials.
Recent reports have highlighted mass attacks on Afghan migrants in various Iranian cities, including Tehran. Some reports describe instances of assault on Afghan migrants and the burning of their homes.
The Human Rights Defenders Network has also called on the Iranian government to handle Afghan migrants according to internationally accepted standards and to refrain from “promoting hatred against Afghan migrants.”
Additionally, the statement urges the member states of the 1951 Refugee Convention to initiate “constructive diplomacy at the global and regional levels” to improve the situation of Afghan migrants in Iran.
The statement calls on the people of Iran to show tolerance towards Afghan migrants, who are currently deserving of humanitarian support.
The organization has warned that continued tensions against Afghan migrants in Iran could have severe repercussions for the cultural and social relations between the two countries, which have deep historical and cultural roots.
Following news of an Iranian citizen’s death in a confrontation with three Afghan migrants, several migrants in Tehran have reported widespread mistreatment by local residents in the eastern part of the capital.
Last week, it was reported that an Iranian citizen was killed in a dispute with three Afghan migrants who had previously visited his brother’s apartment to collect building maintenance charges.
After this incident, recently, local residents in parks, streets, and metro stations in eastern Tehran have been attacking Afghan migrants.
Meanwhile, videos have been circulating on social media showing local residents in District 15 of eastern Tehran assaulting several individuals, who the video senders claim are Afghan migrants.
The escalating violence and discrimination against Afghan migrants in Iran highlight a critical humanitarian crisis that demands immediate and coordinated international action.
The Human Rights Defenders Network’s call for intervention underscores the urgent need for a global response to protect vulnerable populations and uphold fundamental human rights. As tensions rise, both Iranian authorities and the international community must work together to address the root causes of these conflicts, ensure the safety and dignity of Afghan migrants, and foster a more inclusive and humane environment.
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