Iran is expelling Afghans from the country en masse

Following the 12-day war with Israel, Iranian authorities have begun a large-scale expulsion of Afghan refugees.

Hundreds of Afghans who have lived and worked in Iran for many years have published an open letter complaining about unjust detentions and deportations.

According to an Afghan publication, amid increasing violent deportations of Afghan refugees from Iran, a group of them sent an open letter calling for justice. The letter, sent to the editorial office of the newspaper “8am” on Thursday, July 3, 2025, details serious abuses by Iranian authorities. It states that refugees are “arbitrarily detained and falsely accused of espionage on behalf of Israel.”

The letter also notes that Iranian police tear up legal documents or passports of Afghan refugees and confiscate their property, applying physical violence against them. Afghan refugees claim that such actions constitute unfair treatment and a violation of human rights.

In response to these abuses, Afghan refugees have sought help from international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, requesting justice and assistance in ending the mistreatment.

The Iranian government has sharply increased the number of violent deportations of Afghan citizens, justifying its actions by “ensuring sustainable security and peace for the citizens of the country.”

Iranian officials report that they detain hundreds of Afghans daily who do not have documents permitting their stay, and it is for this reason that they are deported. However, the Afghans themselves assert that they are legally in Iran and possess all necessary documents.