Official Statement from Fahim Sajjadi – Afghan Journalist
“After weeks of pressure, humiliation, abuse, and the ruthless confiscation of Afghan refugees’ property in multiple Iranian cities, officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran now publicly state that not a single Afghan national has been involved in espionage.
This raises a critical and painful question:
If there were no spies, then why were innocent Afghan families detained, beaten, evicted, and robbed – simply because of their nationality?
In the past month alone, Afghan refugees have endured collective punishment based on false rumors and baseless allegations. Families were thrown out of their homes, advance rental payments were seized by landlords, children were barred from attending school, and hundreds of individuals were left homeless and humiliated.
Now that the Iranian authorities officially admit there is no evidence, no file, and no charge against Afghan refugees, the very least the Islamic Republic must do is issue a formal and public apology to the people of Afghanistan.
We demand:
- A formal apology to all Afghan migrants from the highest levels of the Iranian government.
- Financial compensation for the victims whose homes and funds were unjustly taken.
- Accountability from the media outlets and individuals who spread fear and hatred against an already vulnerable refugee population.
- Guarantees for the physical and psychological safety of Afghan migrants in Iran going forward.
Afghans in Iran have long been among the most hardworking and law-abiding residents despite enduring marginalization and limited rights. To criminalize and scapegoat them on the basis of nationality is not only unjust – it undermines the shared cultural, religious, and historical bonds between the two nations.
We distinguish between the Iranian people – many of whom sympathize with the Afghan community – and the decisions of certain officials. But now is the time for truth, justice, and responsibility to replace suspicion, silence, and scapegoating.
Respectfully,
Fahim Sajjadi
Afghan Journalist
16 July 2025
