Afghans Under Pressure: Iran Intensifies Deportation Efforts

Several weeks prior, Barakzai, an escapee from Afghanistan, recognized a shift in the demeanor of her typically approachable colleagues at a garment shop in Iran’s capital, Tehran. She observes a chilling change in their attitudes towards her. The perception of Afghans has altered significantly, she explains, with them now seen as adversaries. Remarks such as ‘You are a secret agent; our administration is correct; your service should be terminated’ are now common.

Earlier in the year, Iran pronounced that those Afghans in the country unlawfully should exit, maintaining that it was no longer feasible to accommodate them. Among the estimated six million Afghan populace in Iran, about two million lack legal status. Consequently, over 1.3 million Afghans have since returned to their home country, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports.

Iran, following the recent war, has intensified its efforts to expel Afghans by propagating disinformation, branding them as informants. This strategy aims at achieving their goal of deporting thousands from the nation. Moreover, the government’s campaign has specifically targeted areas integral to the Afghan’s life like housing, employment, and access to banking services.

Afghans are denied rights to banking services like withdrawing funds or employment rights, declares Barakzai. More rigid measures were taken, like threatening imprisonments or imposing fines on those who offered employment to Afghans and compelling landlords to seize leasing their properties to Afghans.

These vigorous campaigns have yielded the intended outcome: An upsurge in the migration of Afghans from Iran to Afghanistan via the Islam Qala border crossing is being witnessed daily. A variety of travelling modes are utilized, some are transported in buses and abandoned at the frontier, others proceed independently.

Migration from Iran showed a surge from daily returns of 5,000 individuals to a staggering 30,000, 40,000 and even 50,000 in certain instances, disclosed the UNHCR representative in Kabul. The sheer magnitude and intensity of these returns stand out.

This upsurge in returnees, reaching over 1.6 million from diverse countries, imposes a colossal challenge to Afghanistan already grappling with burgeoning problems. A United Nations survey discloses that above half the populace, approximating 23.7 million, required humanitarian help the previous year. Alas, forecasts tell of worsening conditions.

Barring two, all aid programs in Afghanistan were discontinued, including one which concluded at June’s end. This translated to termination of 22 programs, valued roughly around $1.03 billion.

Painfully, several households in Afghanistan are struggling with feeding their offspring, adds Rahman. And yet, they’re expected to accommodate the ever-increasing returnees, into millions.

Adding to the cuts, a soaring unemployment rate has further thrust the populace deeper into poverty. Sanctions and banking constraints have strained businesses, while money sent home by expatriate workers, once a key component of the Afghan economy, is dwindling.

The returning populace is being haunted with uncertainty. They were laden with worries concerning where they would settle and how they would sustain their families, Rahman shares. Fears were rampant.

Women returnees, particularly, are faced with a new, more restrictive regime that inhibits their ability to work, pursue an education, or move outside the confines of their homes unless accompanied. The education of one such woman ground to a halt four years ago, following Taliban’s ascension and imposed ban on female education. She fled to Iran to proceed with her academic pursuit.

Just as she was nearing her graduation, conflict erupted. She found herself forced to leave once more. The psychological impact was severe. She recalls the hurt she felt having to abandon her dreams of attaining a Bachelor’s degree and envisaging a future profession, only to then face war and return to her homeland.

The UNHCR anticipates that the volume of returnees is poised to reach a staggering 3 million Afghans by year’s end, should present trends persist. Meanwhile in Tehran, Barakzai endeavours to limit outings from her apartment to a minimum to evade potential deportation.