Afghan Migrants Report Widespread Mistreatment by Iranian Citizens in Eastern Tehran

Reports indicate widespread mistreatment of Afghan migrants in eastern Tehran following reports of an Iranian citizen's death after a verbal and physical altercation with three Afghan migrants.

Last week, it was reported that an Iranian citizen died at a hospital following an altercation with three Afghan migrants who had visited his brother's apartment to collect maintenance fees.

Several Afghan migrants in eastern Tehran have informed Afghanistan International that local residents have been attacking them in parks, streets, and metro stations in recent days.

One Afghan migrant from eastern Tehran wrote that his family is afraid to leave their home for work or shopping.

Another Afghanistan International reader from District 15 of Tehran, where the incident occurred, shared a notice warning Afghan migrants to leave the area immediately. The notice, the origin of which is unknown, threatens forced expulsion from Iran if migrants do not comply.

Videos of street clashes have also been sent to Afghanistan International, though their authenticity has not been verified.

Last week, Tasnim News Agency reported that following the death of an Iranian citizen in a hospital emergency room, Tehran police arrested three Afghan brothers on suspicion of being involved in the death.

The news agency quoted a woman who claimed that three migrant workers had visited her apartment for building maintenance fees. She stated, "My husband was away on a work mission, and I was alone at home. These three brothers, our neighbours, came for the building fees, which led to a verbal dispute over building matters."

The woman accused the migrant workers of verbal abuse and said that she contacted her husband, leading to her brother-in-law confronting the workers, resulting in a physical altercation.

Iranian media, including Tasnim News Agency, reported that the 28-year-old Iranian man sustained chest injuries during the altercation and later died at the hospital. Details about who initiated the dispute and how it led to the fatal injury have not been disclosed.

Recently, there has been a surge of criticism on social media and in the media about the presence of Afghan migrants in various Iranian cities.

Two days ago, following the reported killing of an Iranian man by his Afghan restaurant worker, residents of Khorramabad in Fars Province attacked migrants' homes, setting several houses on fire.

Meanwhile, Iranian media, citing Tehran police, reported the arrest of 10 Afghan citizens accused of "street fights" amid the ongoing conflicts over the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran. Detailed information about the circumstances of their arrest has not yet been released.