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The targeting of Afghans in Iran
must stop
On June 26, 2012, the IRI's security
forces stormed an Afghan neighbourhood of Yazd city after an Iranian
18-year-old girl was killed in the area, allegedly by two men of Afghan
origin. Hundreds of Afghans were arrested and scores of homes were
set on fire. There are reports that some were severely beaten and some
others might have been killed.
Afghan migrants in Iran have been the
target of prejudice, intolerant and xenophobic attacks by the security
forces of the Islamic Republic of Ian (IRI) and their vigilant supporters
including para-military groups for many years. Afghans have been banned
from entry to public parks and other community spaces in many provinces
throughout Iran. They are constantly targeted, brutalized and blamed for
the unemployment and other social ills in Iran. They are stripped of any
rights and are almost certainly the most exploited workers of Iran. Their
wages are mostly under national minimum wage and often unpaid and stolen
by the employers. No human rights or any kind of labour standards protect
them. The majority of children of Afghan workers are not entitled to the
public education. These children have been facing hardship and denied of
any rights throughout their life. A severe discrimination,
propagated by the government, weighs on them. A small percentage of
Afghan migrants have been granted the status of refugees and given the
right of settlement in Iran.
These kinds of violent attacks on a
community that have been victimized and violated for many years only
benefits the Iranian regime by creating diversions as well as divisions
amongst working people and disadvantaged populations. The economic and
political situation in Iran is extremely precarious. Poverty and
unemployment is skyrocketing. The labour and social justice movements are
facing severe repression and are not allowed to organize freely or
express their dissatisfaction with the catastrophic situation in Iran.
Under such unbearable situation, attacks against Afghan workers are only
an attempt to scapegoat a people that had nothing to do with the current
crisis in Iran.
We strongly condemn the continued
violation of the most basic human rights of Afghans in Iran. We condemn
the violent raids on Afghan worker's homes and workplaces by the security
forces in Iran. We denounce the prejudiced, intolerant and xenophobic
culture perpetuated by the Iranian government against Afghan migrants in
Iran. Afghan workers and their families in Iran must have full
citizenship rights. We are calling for solidarity of workers' and social
justice and human rights' movement in Iran and other parts of the world
with Afghan migrants and workers in Iran.
Issued
based on a joint statement by International Alliance in Support of
Workers in Iran-Canada and Council in Support of People Struggle in
Iran-Toronto, Canada
IASWI:
www.workers-iran.org / [email protected]
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International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
(IASWI)
[email protected]
www.etehadbinalmelali.com
www.workers-iran.org.
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