On Tuesday, the US State Department called for an investigation into the incident that in the Afghan province of Herat 57 Afghan nationals who for work purposes tried to enter Iran were arrested by the Iranian border security who tortured the Afghans and then allegedly threw them into a river–in which some died.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Wednesday.
The US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Alice Wells in a tweet termed the incident as ‘horrific’.
“Iran’s cruel treatment and abuse of Afghan migrants alleged in these reports is horrifying” and “We support calls for a thorough investigation,” Wells tweeted.
“The Iranian government has committed a crime against humanity. It’s against all international conventions and it has violated all international laws,” said Laal Gul Laal, the head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Organization, Tolo News reported.
“The incident that happened is very shocking,” said Zaman Sultani, a researcher at Amnesty International.
Local officials in Herat have pledged to probe the incident. They warned that such a move will not go without a response if proved true.
“The life of a single Afghan is precious to us more than your imagination, we will take necessary steps regarding this issue,” said Sayed Wahid Qatali, the governor of Herat.
Officials at Herat district hospital confirmed that Sunday seven bodies had been retrieved while 12 men were rescued alive and hunt for the rest was still underway.
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Consulate General in Herat has strongly dismissed the reports as unfounded.
“Various sources, including officials from the Taibad Border Regiment, have denied the allegations, saying they have not arrested any Afghan nationals in the area,” the consulate said.
Iran hosts an estimated three million Afghans, both legal refugees and illegal immigrants. Poverty-stricken and war-weary Afghans often use illegal smuggling routes on the nearly 900-kilometer border between the two countries to travel to Iran in search of work.
Tens of thousands of Afghans, including deportees, have returned to Afghanistan since the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran, where more than 6,000 people have died and nearly 100,000 others have contracted COVID-19, VOA report said.