Killing Of Afghan Migrants In Iran Crime Against Humanity, Says Ex-Attorney General
The former Afghan attorney general has said that the "deliberate killing" of Afghan migrants by Iranian border guards is a "crime against humanity.
The former Afghan attorney general has said that the "deliberate killing" of Afghan migrants by Iranian border guards is a "crime against humanity.
Dozens of Afghan migrants trying to enter Iran have been reportedly shot dead by Islamic Republic border guards.
Mohammad Farid Hamidi has asked the United Nations and international human rights organisations to punish the perpetrators of this crime.
Mohammad Farid Hamidi, the former Attorney General of Afghanistan, wrote on social media platform X, "Intentional attack on people despite knowing that they are refugees and that they are defenceless, is an example of a crime against humanity, a serious and inhumane crime."
Earlier, a news agency reported that the border forces of Iran shot at Afghan migrants who were trying to enter Iran in Kolgan Saravan area. According to this news agency, out of about 300 Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, only 60 or 70 people survived and the rest were killed or injured.
Hamidi said that these refugees had taken this dangerous route in the hope of finding a "safe and secure place and escape from life threats" and they deserved protection according to international laws, human ethics and Islamic teachings.
He has criticised the Taliban and said that this group does not have the ability to defend the rights of citizens abroad and does not feel responsible in this matter.
He added, "The United Nations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Criminal Court and other relevant institutions must take serious action and punish the perpetrators of the case.”
According to the reports, this event happened on Sunday evening and there are no accurate figures of casualties yet. Some of the eyewitnesses, whose audio file reached Afghanistan International, said that around 300 Afghan migrants were targeted by Iranian military forces and more than 200 people were killed.
Kolgan Saravan region is in Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran and borders with Panjgur region of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Apparently, the Afghan refugees intended to enter Iran through Pakistan.
Along with human smugglers, Baloch rebels also use this route to travel, and the Panjgur area is one of the areas where Baloch rebels have a large presence.
This is not the first time that Iranian forces shot at Afghan refugees at the border. Earlier, Amnesty International said in a report that Afghan migrants who wanted to go to safe countries through Iran and Turkey were shot dead by Iranian and Turkish border forces.
