A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has revealed that the Iranian government policies toward its Afghan refugees and migrant population violate its legal obligations to protect this vulnerable group from abuse.
The report called "Unwelcome Guests: Iran's Violation of Afghan Refugee and Migrant Rights," documented how Iran's flawed asylum system results in a detention and deportation process with no due process for legal appeal.
Iranian officials have in recent years limited legal avenues for Afghans to claim refugee or other immigration status in Iran, even as conditions in Afghanistan have deteriorated.
According to the report, these policies pose a serious risk to the rights and security of the almost one million Afghans whom Iran recognizes as refugees, and hundreds of thousands of others who have fled war and insecurity in Afghanistan.
The practices also violate Iran's obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention, the report added.
Deputy Middle East Director at HRW Joe Stork said that Iran has been deporting thousands of Afghans to a country where the danger is both real and serious.
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HRW documented violations including physical abuse, detention in unsanitary and inhumane conditions, forced payment for transportation and accommodation in deportation camps, forced labor, and forced separation of families.
The report also revealed that undocumented Afghan children face bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from attending school, in violation of international law.
Iranian law limits Afghans, who have permission as refugees to work, to a limited number of dangerous and poorly paid manual labor jobs, regardless of their education and skills.
Iranian law also denies or severely restricts Afghans' citizenship and marriage rights, the report added.
