In a recent development, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR) disclosed that 200 Afghan prisoners who had been sentenced to death in Iran have had their sentences commuted to imprisonment. Subsequently, these individuals were handed over to the current Afghan government. Shedding light on this matter, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, the spokesperson for the ministry, highlighted that out of the 6,000 Afghan prisoners in Iran, more than 2,000 have been released and repatriated.
Haqqani emphasized the establishment of a dedicated committee by the Islamic Emirate to address the concerns of Afghan prisoners in Iran. The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation is an active member of this committee, and through their concerted efforts, they have successfully secured the release of over 2,000 Afghan prisoners from Iranian custody, facilitating their return to Afghanistan. Moreover, in a recent development, the 200 prisoners who were initially handed death sentences in Iran have now been sentenced to imprisonment and subsequently sent back to their home country.
Meanwhile, political analysts have voiced their opinions on the matter, underscoring the necessity of providing employment opportunities within Afghanistan as a means to deter citizens from seeking refuge abroad. Asifa Stanikzai, an advocate for immigrant rights, highlighted that despite the substantial number of Afghan immigrants in Iranian prisons, the recent agreements only address a portion of this population. Wahid Faqiri, an expert in international relations, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of creating viable job prospects within Afghanistan itself to dissuade individuals from seeking opportunities in other countries.
According to data from Iran’s foreign ministry, there are over five million Afghan immigrants residing in the neighboring nation. Prior to these recent developments, an Iranian human rights organization had reported the execution of seven Afghan immigrants in Iran over the past five months, raising concerns about the treatment and fate of Afghan individuals within the country.
The recent commutation of the death sentences for 200 Afghan prisoners in Iran and their subsequent repatriation marks a significant step towards addressing the plight of Afghan detainees. It highlights the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, along with the collaborative endeavors of the established committee, to secure the release of Afghan prisoners and facilitate their safe return home. Additionally, the call for the creation of employment opportunities within Afghanistan underscores the broader need to foster socio-economic stability, thereby reducing the incentives for Afghan citizens to seek refuge in foreign lands.