In the first half of the current year, approximately 710,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from Iran, either voluntarily or under coercive circumstances, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
On Wednesday, September 13, the UNHCR released a report stating that among these individuals, 310,000 lacked official residency and travel documents for Iran. The organization highlighted that these figures represent a 16% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, 2022.
Simultaneously, the UNHCR recorded the voluntary return of 400,000 Afghan refugees from Iran. The report further reveals that the UN agency documented the expulsion of seven refugees with valid residency permits through the Islam Qala and Zaranj border crossings. These Afghan refugees were reportedly deported following detention on charges of violating immigration laws.
These developments come in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, which prompted a significant influx of Afghan citizens into Iran, using both legal and illegal routes. The primary drivers behind these migrations have been cited as unemployment, poverty, and security concerns.
Previously, Iranian police had faced allegations of mistreatment and expulsion of Afghan refugees.
