Iran has intensified its deportation of Afghans, forcing out over 1.5 million people in recent months, with many being branded as spies for Israel amidst heightened tensions in the region. This crackdown has been particularly exacerbated following the 12-day conflict with Israel, during which Iranian authorities have seized on national security concerns to justify their sweeping actions against Afghan immigrants, a community that has largely faced increasing stigmatization.
Reports from individuals like Ali Ahmad reveal harrowing accounts of abuse and mistreatment within detention centers. During his ordeal, Iranian officers allegedly beat Ahmad and accused him of espionage, a narrative increasingly common among Afghans who have sought refuge in the country. Ahmad, who had lived in Iran for two and a half years, now faces a perilous journey back to Afghanistan, stripped of money and belongings.
Iran is believed to host an estimated four million undocumented Afghans, many of whom fled conflict and hardship in their homeland. However, the recent geopolitical landscape, particularly the tensions arising from clashes with Israel, has led the Iranian government to utilize these deportations as a means to project strength and alleviate domestic embarrassment over security failures against perceived external threats.
Barnett Rubin, an Afghanistan expert, suggests that Iran's actions may be a way to find "scapegoats" for its shortcomings, with anti-Afghan sentiment now reinforced by state media alleging collaboration between Afghans and Israeli intelligence. Numerous arrests have been reported, often linked to the Afghan community, which are now being publicly connected to espionage allegations fueled by misinformation and fearmongering on social media.
These deportations have far-reaching implications. As the Taliban regains control, Afghanistan struggles to accommodate returning citizens, with experts warning of an acute humanitarian crisis that could worsen as Afghans are involuntarily displaced back under Taliban rule. The resettlement capacity appears diminished, raising fears for the safety and wellbeing of those forcibly returned, some of whom may face dire conditions or persecution.
Despite historical ties between Afghans and Iranians, public sentiment is shifting dramatically; shared challenges of war and displacement are overshadowed by rampant narratives labeling Afghans as burdens to society. As tensions rise, the risk of violence and communal conflict escalates, leading to calls from activists for a humane approach to the treatment of Afghan refugees.
With growing fears of discrimination and accusations of espionage threatening the safety of their community, many Afghans are left feeling trapped and vulnerable, questioning their future as they navigate a border that is, for many, the only remaining option.
