The forced return of over 1.4 million Afghans from Iran amid xenophobic crackdowns poses significant challenges as they face a struggling economy and women's rights restrictions in Afghanistan.
Iran Deports Over a Million Afghans, Leaving Them in Dire Straits
Iran Deports Over a Million Afghans, Leaving Them in Dire Straits
A massive wave of deportations from Iran is forcing Afghans back to a homeland rife with poverty and severe gender restrictions, raising concerns about their future.
As Iran intensifies its deportation efforts, nearly 20,000 Afghans are being sent back daily through the Islam Qala border crossing. This unsettling trend sees over 1.4 million Afghans expelled since January 2025 due to heightened governmental scrutiny of undocumented refugees, particularly exacerbated by geopolitical tensions following the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. A staggering 500,000 Afghans have returned home in just the past month, creating a humanitarian crisis daunting to navigate.
Upon arrival at a processing center in Islam Qala, many deportees expressed frustration and anxiety about their uncertain prospects. Individuals like Mohammad Akhundzada, a construction worker who claims to have dedicated 42 years of labor in Iran, voiced their disillusionment: "I worked in Iran for 42 years, so hard that my knees are broken, and for what?"
The conditions at the border facility are chaotic, overcrowded, and lacking basic services, forcing returnees into a reality that many do not recognize. Many deportees are entering a country already struggling with deep-seated issues such as extreme poverty and restrictive societal rules, particularly against women and girls.
This large-scale displacement represents one of the most significant humanitarian crises of the past decade, highlighting fears for the future of the returning Afghans as they grapple with the harsh realities awaiting them in Afghanistan. Their plight raises urgent questions about international support and the need for humanitarian intervention in the face of rising domestic challenges.
Upon arrival at a processing center in Islam Qala, many deportees expressed frustration and anxiety about their uncertain prospects. Individuals like Mohammad Akhundzada, a construction worker who claims to have dedicated 42 years of labor in Iran, voiced their disillusionment: "I worked in Iran for 42 years, so hard that my knees are broken, and for what?"
The conditions at the border facility are chaotic, overcrowded, and lacking basic services, forcing returnees into a reality that many do not recognize. Many deportees are entering a country already struggling with deep-seated issues such as extreme poverty and restrictive societal rules, particularly against women and girls.
This large-scale displacement represents one of the most significant humanitarian crises of the past decade, highlighting fears for the future of the returning Afghans as they grapple with the harsh realities awaiting them in Afghanistan. Their plight raises urgent questions about international support and the need for humanitarian intervention in the face of rising domestic challenges.
