**Reports reveal the traumatic experiences of Afghans being deported, highlighting a surge in anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran.**
**Iran's Deportation of Afghan Refugees Sparks Allegations of Espionage**
**Iran's Deportation of Afghan Refugees Sparks Allegations of Espionage**
**Over 1.5 million Afghans expelled from Iran amid accusations of espionage linked to the Israel conflict.**
In the wake of renewed conflict between Iran and Israel, more than 1.5 million Afghans are facing forced expulsion from Iran, with many being falsely accused of spying for Israeli intelligence. Ali Ahmad, a former detainee, shared harrowing accounts of physical abuse while being held by Iranian authorities who claimed he was a spy, using brutal methods to extract confessions. These deportations have intensified in recent months amid Iran's claims of national security threats, particularly following Israel's military actions against Iranian installations.
Tehran has a longstanding history of hosting Afghan refugees; however, undocumented Afghans—roughly four million strong—are now facing heightened scrutiny and deportation. The government's allegations suggest a need for scapegoats following perceived failures against Israeli actions, with experts indicating that the accusations against Afghans may be a tactic to divert public frustration. Criticism is mounting that state-backed media is fostering an environment of suspicion towards Afghans, who are now routinely vilified as economic burdens and spies.
Multiple testimonies recount the brutality endured by Afghan detainees, who report being stripped of identification and subjected to violence. Many are enduring perilous returns to Afghanistan, a nation grappling with its own crises, particularly under the Taliban regime. Activists and researchers caution that the swift return of Afghans will further strain Afghanistan's limited resources and exacerbate humanitarian issues. Public sentiment in Iran, fueled by misinformation, has drastically shifted against Afghans, plunging many into fear of persecution.
Babrak Ehsas, Yasin Rasouli, Rowan Ings, and Sucheera Maguire contributed to this report, with further clarification from Soroush Pakzad.
Tehran has a longstanding history of hosting Afghan refugees; however, undocumented Afghans—roughly four million strong—are now facing heightened scrutiny and deportation. The government's allegations suggest a need for scapegoats following perceived failures against Israeli actions, with experts indicating that the accusations against Afghans may be a tactic to divert public frustration. Criticism is mounting that state-backed media is fostering an environment of suspicion towards Afghans, who are now routinely vilified as economic burdens and spies.
Multiple testimonies recount the brutality endured by Afghan detainees, who report being stripped of identification and subjected to violence. Many are enduring perilous returns to Afghanistan, a nation grappling with its own crises, particularly under the Taliban regime. Activists and researchers caution that the swift return of Afghans will further strain Afghanistan's limited resources and exacerbate humanitarian issues. Public sentiment in Iran, fueled by misinformation, has drastically shifted against Afghans, plunging many into fear of persecution.
Babrak Ehsas, Yasin Rasouli, Rowan Ings, and Sucheera Maguire contributed to this report, with further clarification from Soroush Pakzad.
