Iran's Deportation Crisis: 1.5 Million Afghans Forced Out Amid Espionage Claims

Iran is forcibly deporting Afghans, with many being wrongfully labeled as spies. This surge in deportations, spurred by the recent conflict with Israel, reveals a troubling atmosphere of fear and prejudice, compounded by government-sanctioned misinformation targeting Afghan communities.

Iran has seen a mass exodus of over 1.5 million Afghans this year, exacerbated by an increase in deportations linked to allegations of espionage amid recent conflicts with Israel. Eyewitness accounts reveal harrowing experiences for Afghans like Ali Ahmad, who claims he was beaten by Iranian officers and falsely accused of spying during his detention.

As Iran continues to host approximately four million undocumented Afghans, it has intensified deportations, particularly following a 12-day conflict with Israel. Claims of national security threats have justified the government's actions, leading to a significant spike in returns, peaking at around 50,000 individuals daily in early July, according to the United Nations.

Afghans in Iran now live in fear, often facing accusations of collaboration with Israeli intelligence. An anonymous source shared, "We're afraid to go anywhere, constantly worried that we might be labelled as spies." Prominent experts argue that these scapegoating narratives aim to divert attention from Iran’s own security failures, particularly in light of its embarrassment surrounding perceived Isreali intelligence operations.

Reports have surfaced alleging that some Afghans were detained under fabricated circumstances connected to espionage. For instance, following Israel's military operations against Iran, social media hysteria linked Afghans to accusations of drone development for Israeli forces, despite official retractions clarifying that such claims were baseless and primarily related to immigration violations.

Official statistics from the UN Refugee Agency highlight a staggering number of over 1.5 million Afghans leaving Iran this year, with many fleeing the increasingly hostile environment. Meanwhile, Afghanistan itself struggles with integrating returning nationals, particularly as it remains under the Taliban administration.

Increasing anti-Afghan sentiments in Iran's social media have fueled wider discrimination, pushing many Afghans to the margins of society. Experts warn that this environment could lead to further unrest as Afghanistan remains ill-equipped to handle the tide of returning refugees.

Dr. Khadija Abbasi notes a shift in Iranian perceptions over time; while Afghans were initially welcomed, negative portrayals have transformed them into scapegoats, further complicating the humanitarian crisis for those forcibly deported. As the crisis heats up, Afghans like Abdullah Rezaee lament lost dreams and ambitions, in a landscape where safety has become an elusive concept.