Kabul, March 20 (NationPress) Amid significant challenges confronting Afghan refugees in Iran, the nation has transferred 149 Afghan inmates to the Taliban, as reported by various media sources.

Askar Jalalian, Iran's Deputy Minister of Justice for Human Rights and International Affairs, confirmed that these prisoners have been moved from Iran to Afghanistan.

He noted that the inmates were handed over to the Taliban to complete their sentences.

As of now, the Taliban has not publicly addressed the situation of the transferred prisoners or indicated whether they will fulfill their full sentences under their governance. While the precise number of Afghan prisoners in Iran is not known, rights organizations suggest that many are incarcerated across the nation, as reported by Afghan media outlet Amu TV.

A report from the Iran Human Rights Organization indicated that 80 Afghan prisoners were executed in Iran in 2024, a number that has tripled since 2023.

Consistently, Afghan refugees in Iran have shared experiences of mistreatment and obstacles due to restrictions set by the Iranian government.

Recently, Nader Yarahmadi, director general of the Bureau for Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs at Iran's Ministry of Interior, announced that from March 21, 2025, undocumented Afghan migrants in Iran will lose access to healthcare, education, and other essential services.

"The situation of migrants in Iran is dire. Anti-migrant sentiment has escalated, and police officers arrest individuals under various pretenses, including those with legal visas, and deport them," stated Marofeh Eshaqi, an Afghan migrant in Iran, in an interview with TOLO news.

In the previous year, numerous reports surfaced where Afghan refugees faced humiliation and abuse from Iranian police and citizens.

Videos circulated on social media depicting the harassment of Afghan migrants alongside anti-Afghan slogans being chanted in Iran.

The Iranian government has imposed severe restrictions on Afghan refugees, complicating their ability to secure stable employment.

"Regrettably, the execution of defenseless and marginalized Afghans in Iran is rising. This is unacceptable for the Afghan populace and contravenes international conventions and standards," expressed Afghan political analyst Fazl-ur-Rahman Oria.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees defines refugees as individuals fleeing conflict or persecution, who are recognized and protected under international law and should not be expelled or returned to perilous situations.

Nonetheless, Iran has continued to deport Afghan refugees despite the escalating uncertainties in Afghanistan. For decades, migrants escaping war and conflict in their homeland have sought refuge in Iran.

Even with valid legal documentation, they face deportation and unlawful detention, and often endure harassment and abuse from Iranian authorities.