Iran Returned Bodies Of Afghan Migrants 24 Days After Border Killings
Families of ten Afghan migrants killed by Iranian border forces say the Islamic Republic returned their bodies only after keeping them “hidden for about 24 days.”
Families of ten Afghan migrants killed by Iranian border forces say the Islamic Republic returned their bodies only after keeping them “hidden for about 24 days.”
They condemned what they described as the “inhumane” treatment of the victims and called on international organisations and the Taliban to launch an investigation.
Bakhtar News Agency, run by the Taliban, reported on Wednesday that the migrants were from the Zer Koh and Shindand districts of Herat province. Relatives said the men were shot without warning while attempting to cross into Iran in search of work.
Taliban officials said the incident occurred on 13 November, when the group was travelling toward the border and came under fire from Iranian forces.
Families of the victims held a gathering in Herat demanding justice and accountability from Iran. They said they had gathered evidence and documentation from the site and urged national and international bodies to investigate and hold those responsible to account. They also asked the Taliban administration to pursue the matter diplomatically with Tehran.
The Taliban governor’s office in Herat said the families’ complaints had been registered and would be referred to the relevant authorities for follow-up.
The reports follow comments from Mohammad Nasim Badri, spokesperson for the Taliban police in Farah province, who said at least ten Afghan migrants were killed by Iranian border guards while attempting to enter Iran “illegally” via the Sheikh Abu Nasr Farahi crossing.
Iran has not issued any statement on the latest incident.
Human rights groups have documented several previous cases of deadly force against Afghan migrants by Iranian border units. Last year, Hal Vash, a rights organisation monitoring Sistan and Baluchestan, reported that Iranian forces opened fire on a group of 300 Afghan migrants in the Kalagan area. At the time, the Taliban said two people were killed and several wounded were sent back to Afghanistan.
In 2020, Iranian border guards in Herat’s Gulran district allegedly beat and pushed dozens of Afghan migrants into a river. Officials of Afghanistan’s former government said 18 people died in that incident.
