Hossein Sharafati, Director General of Foreign Nationals and Migrants of Khorasan Razavi, Iran, says that over 270,000 illegal Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran in the past six months.
In an interview with Iranian media, Sharafati said that none of the Afghan migrants, whether legal or illegal, have the right to reside or work in certain cities of the country.
The Director General of Foreign Nationals and Migrants of Khorasan Razavi said: “None of the Afghan nationals, whether authorized or unauthorized, have the right to reside or work in the seven border cities of the province, and identifying these individuals has become a priority for relevant authorities.”
At the same time, some Afghan migrants residing in Iran say they are facing numerous challenges, such as forced deportation and being denied the right to work in the country.
They have called on the caretaker government to address their challenges.
Mohammad Akbar Soltani, an Afghan migrant in Iran, said: “In a shop, a company, or a store, migrants are not allowed to work. The Afghan passport has no value.”
Meanwhile, some migrant rights activists say that the host government must treat Afghan migrants better.
Alireza Karimi, a migrant rights activist, said: “Iran, as a host to a large number of Afghan migrants, is obligated to treat them in a humane and just manner in accordance with international laws.”
Sharafati also mentioned that 75% of Afghan migrants in Iran reside and work, while the remaining 25% have chosen to go to European and Asian countries.