Translated with AI
Iran has seen a sharp increase in repression against Afghan migrants in recent weeks, with dozens of foreigners arrested on charges of spying and sabotage in the interests of Israel, Fergana.ru reported, citing Khybernews.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskander Momeni said some migrants entered the country with "hostile intentions" and "clear goals," including sabotage activities in favor of Israel.
Since the start of the Iran-Israel war, Iranian security forces have detained dozens of Afghans, Indians, and Iraqis on suspicion of sabotage or espionage. According to IranWire, security forces have raided hotels where migrants were staying and detained groups of foreigners. In some cases, confessions extracted under duress from Afghan migrants have been broadcast on state media. The official number of detainees has not been disclosed, but Iranian authorities say they have arrested at least 700 people on charges of spying for Israel since the start of the war.
In recent days, law enforcement has carried out raids in which they confiscated mobile phones from Afghans, issuing receipts in exchange and promising to return the devices in a few weeks. In public places, such as the subway, phones have also been confiscated and ID checks have been carried out, with phones being taken even from those with legal status.
The number of police posts across Tehran has increased. The number of arrests and deportations has increased sharply – three to four times, according to the governor of Tehran province. Taliban officials in Herat confirmed that more than 30,000 Afghan migrants had returned from Iran on June 25 alone.
Because of what is happening, many Afghans in Iran are afraid to leave their homes, go to work or use public services for fear of arrest, deportation or persecution.
Human rights groups say Afghan migrants in Iran have long faced discrimination, but the situation has worsened dramatically since the Middle East conflict escalated. This is the first time that such accusations of espionage and mass detentions of Afghans have occurred. While state media and officials used to regularly blame Afghan migrants for the country's economic problems, they are now accused of spying, planting bombs, and operating drones on behalf of Israeli intelligence.
On June 27, Iranian media reported that Iranian police had received an order to deport all illegal Afghan migrants. Renting out real estate to them threatens the owners with confiscation of their property.
Iran's Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad called on all illegal foreigners, especially Afghans, to leave the country immediately, threatening legal consequences. He called on foreigners legally in Iran to report those suspected of collaborating with Israel.
There are an estimated 5 to 8 million Afghan migrants living in Iran, most of whom are considered “illegal.” According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 88,000 Afghans have been expelled from the country in the last week alone.
