Nearly 12,000 Afghan Migrants Deported from Iran Yesterday

Photo: UNAMA – via Twitter (@UN)

The Taliban’s Commission for Refugee Affairs has announced that nearly 12,000 Afghan migrants were deported from Iran to Afghanistan in just one day.

According to the report from this commission, on Sunday, July 20, a total of 11,972 migrants entered the country through the Islam Qala and Pul-e Abrisham border crossings. On the same day, an additional 638 migrants were either forcibly or voluntarily returned from Pakistan via Spin Boldak and Torkham.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Masoumifar, the head of Iran’s Foreign Ministry office in Khorasan Razavi, has stated that the deadline for undocumented Afghan migrants to leave Iran has been extended until September 6. After that date, those who remain in Iran will face residency fines. According to him, the reason for the extension is “the hot weather and lack of infrastructure.”

However, several Afghan migrants in Iran have previously stated that Iranian police have, in some cases, torn up their residence documents or passports and deported them despite having legal papers. According to some migrants, police officers responded to the presentation of documents by saying, “These papers are only good for fools.”