'They Beat Us, Then Deported Us': Iran Expels Over Half A Million Afghans After Israel Clash

Last Updated:July 11, 2025, 16:01 IST

Over half a million Afghans were expelled from Iran in two weeks, accused of spying for Israel.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

More than half a million Afghans have been expelled from Iran in just over two weeks, according to United Nations, as Tehran accelerates a controversial deportation campaign following its recent conflict with Israel. From June 24 to July 9, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded 508,426 Afghan nationals crossing the Iranian-Afghan border- many of whom were undocumented laborers who had lived in Iran for years. The pace of expulsions has surged since the end of Iran’s 12-day conflict with Israel amid unsubstantiated claims that Afghan migrants may have acted as Israeli spies.

The mass deportations, carried out under a program Iran announced in March, sparked international concern and criticism over alleged abuse, collective punishment and the scapegoating of a vulnerable population for domestic political purposes.

A Humanitarian Crisis At Afghanistan’s Border

Footage from Islam Qala crossing in western Afghanistan showed thousands of returnees, reception facilities overwhelmed and many unaccompanied children arriving after grueling detentions and dangerous journeys.

Mihyung Park, chief of mission for IOM, told CNN, “There are thousands of people under the sun and you know how hot Herat can be. It is quite dire. Last week alone, we had about 400 unaccompanied, separated children, that is a lot." Mihyung Park said that 250,000 Afghans were deported in one week in July alone, marking the highest weekly figure this year.

‘They Beat Us, They Took Our Money’

Bashir, a young Afghan man, said that he was arrested by Iranian police in Tehran, held for two days, extorted and beaten. He said, “First, they took 10 million tomans (about $200) from me. Then they forced me to pay another $50 in the detention center, where we got no food or water. There were around 200 people- they would beat us and abuse us."

Parisa, an 11-year-old girl, described being pulled from school and told to leave the country. She said, “We spent six years in Iran. They told us to apply for an exit letter and leave, even though we had legal census documents."

Allegations of Espionage Against Afghans

The wave of deportations has been fueled by Iranian state media claims that Afghan migrants spied for Israel during the conflict. But critics have accused Iranian authorities of weaponizing unproven allegations to justify a purge of undocumented laborers who make up a significant portion of Iran’s informal economy.

UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett condemned the expulsions on X, saying, “Hundreds of Afghans & members of ethnic & religious minorities detained in Iran accused of ‘espionage.’ Also reports of incitement to discrimination & violence in the media labelling Afghans & minority communities as traitors & using dehumanising language."

Tehran Defends Deportations

Iran’s government defended the expulsions as a matter of national security, saying, “We’ve always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally illegal nationals must return."

Location :

Iran

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News world 'They Beat Us, Then Deported Us': Iran Expels Over Half A Million Afghans After Israel Clash