Iran: Expulsion of Afghan refugees who have resided in Iran for several years, married Iranian citizens and have Iranian-born children (1995 to present)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN29468.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Expulsion of Afghan refugees who have resided in Iran for several years, married Iranian citizens and have Iranian-born children (1995 to present), 1 June 1998, IRN29468.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abd9a0.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information specific to the expulsion of Afghan refugees who have resided in Iran for several years, married Iranian citizens and have Iranian-born children, from 1995 to the present, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
The World Refugee Survey 1997 states that those who fled Afghanistan during the 1980s and were recognized as refugees were given a "green card" that allowed them to stay in Iran legally (147). The report also states that duration of residence is not indicated on the "green card" which could be revoked at any time (147). Furthermore, those who entered Iran in the 1990s were issued temporary registration documents as a mean to provide them with legal status in Iran and to register them for repatriation.
However, according to a February 1995 Amnesty International report, quoting the Iranian authorities, Afghans with permanent residence status who had registered their marriages and whose children had identity cards could remain in Iran without any restriction. Those who were on temporary residence permits and who had not registered their marriages and obtained identity cards for their children could apply for and obtain permanent residence permits. Those who did not apply for permanent residence status would "have to leave Iran."
Nonetheless, a 13 June 1995 report from the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran states that "Afghan refugees holding a temporary residence permit ... are duty bound to obtain exit visas by 31st Mordad [23rd July-22nd August] of the current year and make a decision to leave the country." The report also states that the statement applied to single people, married people and mixed marriages [Afghan-Iranian]. However, the refugees would be assisted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UNHCR.
In September 1996 an Iranian Ministry official stated that residence permits issued to Afghan refugees would not be extended and that arrangements would be made for the "voluntary" repatriation of the refugees through Turkmenistan under Iranian, Turkmenistan and UNHCR supervision (DPA 15 sept. 1996).
A 28 April 1996 report from the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran quotes an advisor to the Interior minister as establishing a date for the expiration of blue cards: " All ... blue cards relating to Afghan refugees will no longer be valid after ... 21st March 1997 and temporary residence permits will be issued instead for all foreign nationals in the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Further in December 1996, the Ministry of Labour gave one month to employers to fire foreign workers and to replace them by Iranian workers. Around one million refugees, mostly Afghan, would have been affected by the measure (Country Reports 1997 1998).
However, conditions prevailing in Afghanistan frustrated Iran's plans to repatriate all Afghan refugees by March 1997 and Taliban control over Afghanistan border areas with Iran was a dissuasive factor (World Refugee Survey 1997, 147). Of the 500,000 Afghans scheduled to return in Afghanistan in 1996, only 41,619 were known to have been repatriated. The World Refugee Survey 1997 also states that,
In general, the Iranian authorities showed an awareness of difficulties Afghan refugees could face if returned to Taliban-controlled areas, and appeared not to be pushing repatriation as hard as in previous years. However, another 33,252 Afghans who did not possess documents for longer stay in Iran were repatriated during 1996 without UNHCR assistance. It was not clear whether or not their return was voluntary (147).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1997. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 15 September 1996. BC Cycle. "Afghan Refugees in Iran Must Return ( Interior Ministry Official." (NEXIS)
Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran [Tehran, in Persian]. 27 April 1996. "Iranian Interior Ministry Official on Number and Status of Refugees." (BBC Summary 28 Apr. 1996/NEXIS)
_____.11 June 1995. "Interior Ministry Sets Dates for Afghan Refugees to Leave Iran." (BBC Summary 13 June 1995/NEXIS)
U.S. Committee for Refugees. 1997. World Refugee Survey 1997. Washington, DC: U.S. Committee for Refugees.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: REFWORLD, Keesing's Record of World Events 1969-1997, IRB databases.
Resource Centre's Country Files : Iran.
