Escalation of protests in Semnan: Afghan migrants facing threats and deportation

SEMNNAN, IRAN – Protests against Afghan migrants in Semnan province, Iran, have entered their fourth day. These demonstrations began following the murder of a 28-year-old Iranian man, Maziar Touranian, in the city of Mahdishahr. After the discovery of the victim’s body, the head of the Semnan judiciary announced the arrest of the perpetrators, with the province’s police chief confirming that one of the suspects is an Afghan national.

The intensification of these protests has raised concerns among Afghan migrants in Iran. Videos circulating on social media show Iranian protesters chanting threatening slogans such as “Kill the Afghan” and “Death to Afghans.”

Meanwhile, several Afghan migrants residing in Mahdishahr have shared videos with media outlets, expressing fear over the current situation. They report that they have been unable to leave their homes for several days due to safety concerns. Some claim that local residents have been physically assaulting Afghan migrants, regardless of age.

In response to the escalating protests, Semnan law enforcement officials announced that 2,595 Afghan migrants will be expelled from Mahdishahr. The deportation process began on Monday with the removal of 100 Afghan migrants.

Iran has significantly increased the deportation of Afghan migrants over the past year. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 1.2 million undocumented Afghan migrants have been expelled from Iran in 2024.