TEHRAN. After the Taliban seized power in August 2021, many Afghans fled to neighboring Iran. According to estimates by the UN Refugee Agency, there are about 4.5 million Afghan refugees in Iran, but according to reports in Iranian media, the number is much higher. The mullahs’ regime is currently planning to mass deport Afghan citizens who do not have legal residency status. Afghans living illegally in Iran have long come to Turkey due to the incredible mistakes of the Ankara government in this regard and the support of the Iranian government. It is feared that this will continue in the future.
“The presence of illegal refugees in the country not only causes social damage, but also takes away jobs from local people,” said Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, according to state broadcaster IRIB. Therefore, the immediate deportation of illegal refugees is planned. According to reports, the deportation will be completed by the end of the Persian year (March 20, 2025).
The aim is also to create employment for Iranians
The large number of Afghan refugees in Iran in recent months has caused a heated debate in domestic politics. For employers, they represent cheap labor without insurance or tax obligations. Many work in low-wage sectors in the capital Tehran, such as small supermarkets or on construction sites. President Massoud Pezeshkian’s new government also wants to create more jobs for Iranians through mass deportations.
It is difficult to control the long border
Ongoing conflict, extreme poverty and high unemployment are forcing thousands of Afghans to cross the border into Iran illegally each year. The 945-kilometer-long border is largely uninhabited, making it difficult for Iranian border guards to prevent illegal border crossings. As a result, many Afghans may return to Iran at any time, even after being deported.
2024-09-07 19:30:33