RASC News Agency: In response to the continued mistreatment and forced deportation of Afghanistani refugees from Iran, the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan declared that Iran’s immigration policies are not in compliance with international standards and human rights conventions. On Friday, August 9, the Council condemned the forced deportation of refugees and the associated mistreatment and violence.
The Council emphasized that in many instances, the conduct of the Iranian police toward refugees is unethical. In a statement, the Council asserted, “The provisions of the 1951 Geneva Convention on the rights of refugees and the obligations of host countries are unequivocal, and all member states of the United Nations are mandated to uphold them.” The Council stressed that refugees, having fled their homeland due to insurmountable challenges, should not be subjected to forced expulsion. Deportation could result in the loss of many lives.
The National Resistance Council urged Iran to cease its forced deportation and violent treatment of refugees, especially in light of the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, which places the lives of many at grave risk. However, the Council also highlighted the importance of prosecuting those refugees who break the law and strain relations between the two nations. The Taliban have also expressed concern over the violent treatment of Afghanistani refugees in Iran, issuing a statement to that effect.
In recent days, Iran has intensified its deportation efforts. Last week, an Iranian police officer broke the neck of an Afghanistani refugee with his knee—a brutal act widely condemned as immoral, sparking widespread online protests. Afghanistani women have denounced the officer’s actions as unethical, demanding that the perpetrator be brought to justice.
