Afghanen im Iran: Eine der größten Deportationen der Geschichte
Schon letztes Jahre hatte die iranische Regierung afghanischen Flüchtlingen im Land ganz offiziell der Krieg erklärt. Seit den Angriffen Israels intensiviert Teheran diese Abschiebungen noch einmal und. Das Ziel: Vier Millionen Menschen in das von den Taliban kontrollierte und völlig verarmte Nachbarland zu deportieren.
Eine ähnliche Kampagne wird gerade von Pakistan durchführt, dass ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste nach Afghanistan abschiebt.
In March, however, Iran said it was expelling all undocumented Afghans even though many have lived there for decades. The deportations have intensified since the recent 12-day war with Israel. The Iranian authorities claimed Afghans had spied for the enemy.
State media broadcast footage of an alleged Afghan spy for Israel confessing to being paid $2,000 for providing locations to another Afghan based in Germany. “We’ve always strived to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally illegal nationals must return,” said Fatemeh Mohajerani, a government spokeswoman.
On some days last week more than 40,000 were dumped on the borders in a few hours. There have been chaotic scenes as people waited for transport and processing in temperatures as high as 50C. “Israel has more mercy than Iran!” shouted one man at Islam Qala, a border town, on Friday.
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), more than 546,000 undocumented Afghans returned between June 1 and July 9. “The unprecedented surge in repatriations hinders the ability of IOM and partners to provide aid,” said Jorge Galindo, an IOM spokesman. “We are reaching only 10 per cent of those in need.”
Not only are repatriation camps overwhelmed, but many who fled the Taliban face the additional danger of retaliation, including those who worked for the security services of the previous government, and women activists. For girls aged 11 or over, it means an end to schooling.