UN Official Raises Alarm Over Iran’s Detention of Afghan Migrants on Spying Allegations

Kokcha News Agency reports that Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, highlighted alarming reports of Iran arresting hundreds of Afghan migrants, including ethnic and religious minorities, on accusations of espionage. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) dated July 5, Bennett condemned Iranian police for allegedly using violence during the arrests and for employing abusive and degrading language toward Afghan refugees.

Experts emphasized that the post-war situation should not serve as a pretext for suppressing dissent and increasing repression. They raised concerns about the broader crackdown, which follows recent military attacks by Israel and the U.S., and are linked to reports of executions, enforced disappearances, and mass arrests.

Since June 13, reports indicate that at least six individuals, including three Kurdish men, have been executed on charges of spying for Israel—a development that has sparked international criticism.

Many Afghan returnees and refugees have shared similar experiences of arbitrary detention and false espionage accusations by Iranian authorities, sparking broader fears of abuse and torture targeting minority communities amid worsening cross-border tensions.

Iran hosts over three million Afghan nationals, many residing in undocumented and vulnerable conditions, making them susceptible to detention, deportation, and human rights violations. Experts warn that the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and regional escalation could lead to further persecution, scapegoating, and collective punishment of Afghan migrants and other foreign nationals.

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