Shargh, a Tehran-based newspaper, has reported that Kobra Gholami, an Afghan social researcher, is poised to be handed over to the Taliban "within hours" following the cancellation of her passport and subsequent deportation from Iran.
The newspaper has expressed grave concerns for Gholami's safety, warning that her transfer to Taliban-controlled territory could jeopardise her life.
According to Shargh's report published on Saturday, Gholami possessed all necessary residency documents to remain in Iran legally. However, her passport was cancelled, and she was deported to Afghanistan without any formal legal proceedings.
Notably, Gholami was deported alone, separated from her family, marking this case as particularly unusual among the numerous Afghan deportations that have occurred over the past three years.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has expelled thousands of Afghan migrants during this period, including families and unaccompanied minors.
Shargh's report, citing social activists, noted that Gholami was not afforded the opportunity to bid farewell to her loved ones before her deportation.
Gholami, an Afghan-born social researcher who spent her life in Iran, faced deportation following a warning related to her hijab. Despite recent campaigns by Iranian civil activists to prevent her deportation, these efforts have so far proven ineffective.
Activists have voiced concerns that Gholami's deportation to Afghanistan places her in a dire situation, given the Taliban’s restrictive policies on women's rights, including education, employment, and social participation. There is also apprehension that she might face severe repercussions from the Taliban.
In related developments, there have been multiple reports of Afghan migrants being deported from Iran despite holding valid residency documents. Instances have surfaced where former Afghan government security personnel have been detained or killed by the Taliban after their return from Iran.
In recent reports, Gul Nabi and Pacha Gul, former local police officers from the previous Afghan government, were arrested by the Taliban in Laghman following their deportation from Iran.
Additionally, the Jamiat-e-Islami party of Afghanistan confirmed the killing of Ezzatullah, an anti-Taliban commander, in Sar-e Pul province a day after he was deported from Iran.
