Afghan Groups Demand International Action After Iran Massacres Afghan Migrants: '[Iran's] Actions Against Afghan Refugees Are More Cruel Than Israel's Actions Against Palestinians'; 'How They Can Commit Such Atrocities While... Defending The Rights Of The Palestinian People?'

Over the past few decades, young Afghans have regularly crossed into Iran in search of jobs. Some are killed on the border; others are recruited by Iranian intelligence to join Iran's militias to fight in Syria and Iraq, and others are deported back to Afghanistan.[1] On October 14-15, 2024, Iranian border guards killed around 260 Afghan migrants in the Kala Gan border area of the Sarbaz district in Iran's Sistan and Balochistan province. While the number of people reportedly killed varies, it appears to have been over 200.[2] On October 17, Amu TV published a report based on an interview with a migrant, whose name was given as Maroof, who was injured in the Iranian incident, and who estimated that "the total number of these refugees, including women, was around 400 to 500."[3]

In a statement, the National Mobilization Front (NMF), an anti-Taliban resistance group, published a message in which it condemned the killings of the Afghan migrants, and called upon the international community and human rights organizations to hold Iran accountable for these atrocities, stating: "In the latest case, at least 240 people were killed, and 60 others were injured after Iranian border guards shot at Afghan immigrants at the border point of Iran's Sistan and Baluchistan."[4] Afghan women's rights activist Taranom Saeedi also called for immediate international accountability for Iran.[5]

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) has been measured in its response, appointing a delegation to investigate the shooting of the Afghan migrants. Hamdullah Fitrat, the Taliban's deputy spokesperson, said the delegation, led by the Deputy Minister of Interior for Security, includes representatives from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Borders and Tribal Affairs, and the Intelligence Directorate, to investigate the incident. "They will conduct investigations and share the results with the Prime Minister's Office to receive further instructions," Hamdullah Fitrat stated.[6]

On October 17, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called for an investigation into the killings, stating: "UNAMA expresses its deep concern over disturbing reports of an incident on 14 to 15 October in Sistan province, Sarbaz district, Kala Gan border area of Iran, with allegations that a large group of Afghan migrants were fired upon, resulting in deaths and injuries. UNAMA calls for thorough and transparent investigations into the alleged incident and reminds all parties that the rights of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are protected by international law."[7]

Following are excerpts from the Amu TV report.[8]

"The Story Of An Injured Person From The Incident Of Afghan Refugees Being Killed At The Iran Border

"In line with the request to investigate the casualties of refugees at the Iran border, an Afghan who was injured in the incident told Amu that he and his companions were about five meters inside Iranian territory when they came under Iranian border guards' gunfire and artillery shells. He says that the total number of these refugees, including women, was around 400 to 500, and he witnessed eight people being killed in the gunfire, with many others injured.

"This person, Maroof (an alias) says that about a week ago, around 450 people, including women, were on their way to Iran from Afghanistan. Due to security concerns, this person's statement has been rewritten in this report. He says that after passing through complex and difficult routes, when they entered the city of Kalgan in Iran, about five meters inside Iranian territory, they were fired upon with artillery and bullets by Iranian border guards. Maroof says that aside from the sounds of gunfire and artillery, he did not hear any other sounds.

"He says: 'When we entered the Iranian border, we were about five or ten meters inside Iranian territory when they shined lights on us, and they fired at us. Many people were injured due to the artillery shells, there were four artillery shots and then there were a few Kalashnikov shots.'

"Maroof also emphasizes that he saw the bodies of eight people, and according to him, the number of injured individuals is high. He adds: 'When I was hit by the first bullet, I said: if there is a way, arrest us, they did not accept it. I personally witnessed the death of eight people, the number of injured was many, I do not know exactly, but there were many.'

"The Taliban have stated that their special delegation is investigating this incident. According to the Taliban's statement, the delegation is led by Mohammad Ibrahim Sadr, the Deputy Minister of Security at the Ministry of Interior. It also includes representatives from the ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Borders, as well as members of the Taliban's intelligence agency.

"However, Iran, as announced by its embassy in Kabul on Wednesday [October 16], has denied the incident and has somehow refuted it. The Afghan embassy in Tehran, which is now under the Taliban control, has also informed Amu that it is investigating the incident. However, based on reactions, demands, and hopes, this incident should be thoroughly investigated, and all aspects of it should be clarified.

"Earlier, the Iranian human rights organization 'Halvash' reported, citing its sources, that on the evening of Sunday, Mizan 22 [Solar Hijri, corresponding to October 13], Iranian border forces detained dozens of Afghan refugees in the Kalgan area of Saravan, resulting in many being killed and injured."

Following are excerpts from a statement by NMF.[9]

"The Coming To Power Of The Taliban Was Unbelievable For Many Afghan People, And They Did Not Want To Live Under The Rule Of This Authoritarian And Extremist Group, And They Chose The Easiest Way Of Life - To Go To An Islamic Country With The Same Language [Iran]"

"The Message Of NMF Of Afghanistan In Connection With The Recent Criminal Attack By Iranian Border Army

"The National Mobilization Front of Afghanistan has condemned the cowardly attack by the border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the defenseless and unarmed refugees of Afghanistan who, due to the fate of time and the rule of the Taliban group, are trying to find work and a bite of hallal [permissible] bread, intending to travel to the Islamic country [of Iran] which has the same language and is a friend of Afghanistan. But contrary to all international conventions and human rights, they were bombarded with the strongest words...

"Migration as a social phenomenon has various economic, social, cultural, political and security consequences and reflections, which have been recognized by the United Nations and human rights organizations. The positive economic consequences of the migration of Afghans to Iran have been more than its other consequences.

Image of Afghan migrants killed by Iran (Courtesy: X.com/IlyasKamawal, October 16, 2024).

"But with the reluctance and pain of Iran's religious and religious mullah regime, which has been imposed on the people of that country in the name of religion, and its recent actions against Afghan refugees are more cruel than Israel's actions against Palestinians. The brutal attack and killing of this mullahs' regime on defenseless Afghan immigrants show the bitter truth that the name of religion casts a shadow over the people in that country.

"The coming to power of the Taliban was unbelievable for many Afghan people and they did not want to live under the rule of this authoritarian and extremist group, and they chose the easiest way of life to go to an Islamic country with the same language and a neighbor [Iran] and they wanted to be able to easily cross the border. There is no need to hang on the wheels of the plane and fall from it ... [to earn] a bite of hallal bread for their families.

"It is regrettable that these countrymen and neighbors of Afghan immigrants are sometimes insulted and humiliated inside Iran by the name of 'pedar sukhte Afghani muhajir' ["burnt father," a pejorative for Afghan immigrants] and sometimes they are sent back to Afghanistan in agreement with the tyrannical Taliban, who are then assassinated on this side of the border by members of the Taliban gunmen for the crime of serving in the previous government, or they are imprisoned. In the latest case, at least 240 people were killed, and 60 others were injured after Iranian border guards shot at Afghan immigrants at the border point of Iran's Sistan and Baluchistan province.

"The National Front of Afghanistan once again condemns this crime of the Akhundi regime in the strongest terms and asks the human rights organizations, the United Nations and the International Migration Convention to oblige the Irani Akhundi regime to answer for this barbaric and inhuman act of theirs. And on the other hand, these human rights organizations are working as soon as possible to defend the rights and justice of Afghanistan in the country of Iran, and the crimes of the Iranian regime are obliged to respect the rights of refugees."

Afghan Women's Rights Activist Taranom Saeedi: "We Demand Answers From The Iranian Government As To How They Can Commit Such Atrocities While, On One Hand, Defending The Rights Of The Palestinian People"

Afghan women's rights activist Taranom Saeedi.

Afghan women's rights activist Taranom Saeedi expressed concern over the killings of the refugees and called for immediate action from international organizations, observing:[10]

"Migration and refugee rights are among the key social and human rights challenges in various societies. According to international conventions and standards, the rights of individuals, regardless of their nationality, race, or legal status, must be respected. Unfortunately, we are witnessing the dire situation of Afghan refugees in Iran, where many are deprived of even the most basic rights, such as buying bread or sending their children to school...

"Police forces and, at times, Iranian civilians beat and insult Afghan refugees, then transfer them to camps without any notice, eventually deporting them. These individuals don't even have the chance to gather their personal belongings or receive their wages from their employers...

"Iranian border guards have killed over 200 Afghan refugees. We demand answers from the Iranian government as to how they can commit such atrocities while, on one hand, defending the rights of the Palestinian people but, on the other, showing no concern for the mass killing of Afghan youth."