KABUL, 07 April 2022, (TON): At least 3,000 Afghan refugees return to Afghanistan from Iran every day, many of whom are forcibly returned, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan officials have reported.

Investigations by the Ministry of Refugees found that 7,500 people entered Afghanistan from the Iranian border in the past two days.

According to the ministry “of these people, 5,500 were forcibly returned to Afghanistan by the Iranian government. People who went to Iran due to political developments or poverty and hunger, now have bitter narratives of forced deportation from Iran.”

One of the forced returnees said “when you leave Afghanistan, extortion and looting begin. They [Iranians] are very annoyed.”

“On the way back home, if you get caught by them, they will take money from you, in short, they will do whatever they want,” said another forced returnee. Questions have been raised however as to why Iranian forces have become heavy handed in their treatment of Afghan refugees lately.

Asifa Stanikzai, an immigration rights activist in Iran said “issues such as the influx of immigrants into Iran, the lack of capacity to accept new immigrants, and diplomatic issues have led to an increase in forced returns.”