I have previously witnessed and heard about the kind treatment of Iranian citizens towards Afghan immigrants. Men from my village who returned from Iran often spoke of Iranians with honesty, kindness, and a gentle demeanor, which encouraged me, as a listener, to consider traveling to Iran. Iranian citizens possess many commendable qualities that cannot be denied. Their behavior towards Afghan immigrants has generally been good and neighborly, with an understanding of the dire situation in Afghanistan and a genuine effort to sympathize with Afghan immigrants.
However, there has been a noticeable change in the behavior of Iranian citizens towards Afghan immigrants following Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s statement concerning the country’s water rights to the Helmand River. On May 18 of this year, Raisi warned the Taliban to respect the water rights of the people of Sistan and Balochistan, emphasizing that the Taliban should take his words seriously to avoid future grievances. Subsequently, on May 27, a skirmish occurred between Iranian border guards and the Taliban at the border crossing in Nimruz Province, resulting in casualties on both sides. These statements by the president and the subsequent border conflict have somewhat dampened the warmth in the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Taliban, consequently impacting the behavior of Iranian citizens towards Afghan immigrants. As an observer, I have witnessed this negative change in Iranian citizens’ behavior towards Afghan immigrants. Here, I provide three examples that I describe with utmost sincerity:
1[ On Wednesday, May 24, I visited a barbershop and patiently waited in line. I was the only Afghan immigrant among Iranians in the queue. This was not my first visit to this barbershop, and the owners were well aware of my Afghan identity. While the hairdressers were busy working, they engaged in conversations with the Iranians in the waiting area, discussing various topics ranging from Iran’s challenging economic situation to the resumption of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as tensions between Iran and the Taliban. I silently listened to their conversations. At one point, someone mentioned the Taliban and the Islamic Republic of Iran, referring to the sarcastic remarks made by General Mobin, a prominent media figure of the Taliban. Filled with indignation, he turned to the hairdresser and exclaimed that Iranians were being humiliated, suggesting that the Taliban Mullahs mocked Iranians with a barrel of water: “Wow! We have a government. If I were the president, I would order our army pilots to bomb Afghanistan and crush the Taliban within an hour.” To my dismay, the hairdresser responded, “No, there’s no need for pilots, armies, or bombings. Just evict these immigrants who are here.” Helpless, I remained silently disgruntled. These sarcastic words weighed heavily on my spirit, evoking the pain of homelessness and, more importantly, statelessness. Yes, the Taliban have turned Afghanistan into a desolate country, but it is unjust for Afghan refugees fleeing from the Taliban to bear the consequences of their actions. The only form of protest available to me was to leave the barbershop, vowing not to return. I recorded this bitter and unpleasant scene in my diary that day.
2- On Sunday, June 4, I visited a store that I had frequented for a long time to buy sausage. However, I was shocked to find that its price had significantly increased. One of the serious problems in Iran is the incessant rise in the cost of goods, escalating every month due to the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. I expressed my concern to the store owner, stating, “The price of sausage has increased drastically.” In response, he claimed that the presence of Afghans in Iran and the Taliban’s warnings had exacerbated the problem of price hikes. He added that if Afghans had left Iran earlier, things would have been better. Judging by his tone and facial expression, it was clear that he was angry, referring to General Mobin’s sarcastic warning. Disheartened, I left the sausage behind and walked away in silence. The least I could do was to stop patronizing that store.
3- On Monday, June 26, I visited another barbershop and joined the waiting line. Two Afghan immigrant students, who were also present, engaged in conversation with the hairdressers alongside Iranians. They were from Nimruz Province and introduced themselves as Baloch. One of them expressed a desire to have his beard shaved, to which the barber responded, “If you shave your beard, will the Taliban leave you alone when you return to Afghanistan?” The barber’s colleague added, “No, if he’s a Pashtun, the Taliban won’t bother him.” Although there may be some truth to this statement, it was bitter and disheartening to hear. It indicates a sense of lawlessness or ineffective governance in Afghanistan. Others boast about their national government, strong military, and thriving economy, but when it comes to Afghanistan, people often associate it with ethnic divisions and a failed government.
If we consider Raisi’s warning to the Taliban as an attempt to divert public attention from Iran’s internal problems, it seems to have been relatively successful. Iranian citizens hold strong disdain towards the Taliban. The memory of Iranian diplomats being executed by the Taliban remains vivid in their minds, which likely stirs their sentiments against the Taliban over even minor incidents. If the relationship between the Taliban and the Islamic Republic becomes more strained, the behavior of Iranian citizens towards Afghan immigrants will further deteriorate compared to the past, to the detriment of the immigrants. If an immigrant with legal documentation to stay in Iran is treated in such a manner, it is uncertain how those who have entered Iran illegally, bearing immense hardships, would be treated. The behavior of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards immigrants is evident enough; there is no need to elaborate on it.