An Afghan refugee in Iran: ‘I have imprisoned myself inside our home in fear of a mob attack outside’
These days, I hide like a fugitive. I have imprisoned myself, my wife, and my 9-year-old and 5-year-old children inside our home in fear of a mob attack. I am afraid that anti-refugee mobs will stab me or one of my family members, and that no one will care because I am Afghan. I cannot return to my country because my life would be in danger there.
I am an Afghan journalist who took refuge in Iran out of fear of the Taliban. I have been waiting for more than two years for my asylum case to be processed by a safe third country. I live in a house near Besim Park in the 15th district of Tehran, which is an area that has become the main focus of Afghan hunting mobs. Recently, a 28-year-old Iranian man was killed, reportedly knifed by three Afghan refugees during a brawl. It is also said the Tehran police arrested three suspects.
Following this incident, many Afghans were attacked and wounded on the streets of Tehran, especially young men. On July 20, a middle-aged Afghan woman was stabbed by people who were on a motorcycle who were looking for Afghans to attack. She is now paralyzed and in hospital.
As I do not have a visa or legal documents entitling me to reside in Iran, I was always careful not to get caught by the city’s police. Now, I can’t even step outside the gate of my house. I am afraid that I will face the contemptuous looks and attacks from angry mobs.
There is organized anti-refugee propaganda visible everywhere in the city. A large plaque has been installed at the pedestrian crossing in the 15th district of Tehran, which states: “Alien Afghan subjects in the 15th district of Tehran are warned that they should immediately leave the area, otherwise they will be forcibly expelled from the area and kicked out of the country.” It adds, “The owners of residential houses and cars that have been rented to alien subjects are warned to take their property back, including houses and cars, etc. as soon as possible, otherwise legal action will be taken.” It is not clear who has installed this official-looking plaque but it isn’t the only warning sign. Similar plaques installed in Khinj city include that they are from “Khinj City Crime Prevention Headquarters.”
Images of these anti-refugee plaques and billboards are shared on social media pages along with racist messages, with the hashtag “deportation of Afghan refugees is a national demand.” Although the extent of Iranian government involvement in those anti-refugee campaigns isn’t clear, what is obvious is that the government has done nothing to curb these anti-refugee campaigns. Rather, it has intensified the process of arresting and deporting refugees who lack legal documents and has stopped providing services to Afghans living in Iran. The municipalities in some provinces of Iran have also sealed hundreds of shops due to them employing Afghan immigrants.
I, who has imprisoned myself and my family in our home in the city of Tehran, notice that Iranian police cars patrol the streets from morning until noon in order to find and detain refugees who do not have documents. They are transferred to designated camps, from where they will be deported to Afghanistan.
During the recent election campaigns, presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian declared that he would continue to deport illegal refugees. Since his victory, anti-refugee sentiment has surged.
I should also say that not all citizens of Iran hate refugees. In the last two years, I have come across many kind and companionate souls. One of them is my middle-aged neighbour – not only did he advise me not to leave my house these days, but he also buys our groceries, so I and my family can remain safe from attacks from anti-refugee mobs.
*Farhad is the pseudonym of an Afghan journalist living in Iran.
