Iran: Bill Would Criminalize More than 800,000 Afghan Nationals

In a move that will make the lives of over 800,000 undocumented Afghan nationals living in Iran even more difficult, Iran’s parliament has introduced a bill to criminalize undocumented foreign nationals.

Legal uncertainty, lack of support for migrants and victims of war, and racist attitudes exacerbate the pressure on the already stressful lives of Afghans in Iran.

And now thirty members of the Islamic Republic parliament of Iran have called for punitive measures against undocumented migrants in a bill entitled Accounting for Illegal Aliens.

In addition to deportation, the bill calls for harsh punishments. It specifies minimum sentences of 25 years with fines of 100 million tomans, confiscation of all property, and more.

Even attempting to find a place of residence for undocumented people would be punishable with up to 5 years in prison and confiscation of property.

This bill would give more freedom of action and less accountability to the military and security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It would give police and security forces permission to shoot at undocumented migrants who do not pay attention to police orders. Essentially allowing the use of lethal force with impunity. Further exacerbating the insecurity many Afghans in Iran already experience.[1]

Even if the bill is not finally approved by parliament and the Guardian Council, it could jeopardize the lives and economic security of hundreds of thousands of Afghans, most of whom have lived with their families in Iran for years.

An Afghan national residing in Tehran had this to say to Arseh Sevom:

“Afghan refugees in Iran are families. These are people who may have lived here for many years without legal documents. If they [the government] want to do this, leave at least one solution.

Because of the conditions resulting from war and serious lack of security in Afghanistan, I really think it is an inhumane act. So, where should all these migrants go? On one side, Afghanistan is unsafe and on the other side, Iran has closed its borders to us. Many of these families have children who were born here and do not have legal documents. This does not make sense.”

Arseh Sevom warns that this inhumane and irresponsible plan would lead to detrimental political, economic, and social consequences for the country.

Justice, equality, and tolerance are values we must work towards and demand. Especially now, in the face of great injustice towards Afghan refugees.

[1] State Violence: In June 2020, a video was widely shared of the aftermath of  police violence that led to a car with Afghans overturning and catching fire. Three died and four were wounded. In the video, police ignore the pleas for water from a teenaged boy.

Iranian and Afghan social media users were quick to protest using the hashtags #Iamburning and #کمی_آب_بیار_که_سوختم  (Give me some water because I am burning). The campaign led to severe criticism of Iran’s security forces online.