Mohajir Times: A recently released video on social media shows an Afghan migrant being insulted and violently assaulted by police officers. This incident occurred on August 5, 2024, in the Ab-e-Sard village of Damavand, a suburb of Tehran province. The video depicts a police officer placing his foot on the neck of an Afghan migrant, pressing him onto the road while the migrant screams in distress. The video also captures the shouts of some women, presumably relatives of the individual being subjected to police violence.
According to informed sources, the teenager who was violently arrested by the police suffers from hearing impairment and possesses a census registration card. Sources indicate that when the police raided the workplace of undocumented migrants for deportation, this migrant, who also had residency documents, was influenced by the police's violent behavior towards migrants and fled the besieged area.
Sources add that “He fled from the police out of fear and panic, which eventually led to his arrest following police resistance. Upon his arrest, he was subjected to mistreatment and violence by the police. It is reported that the Afghan migrant sustained injuries from the police violence and is currently hospitalized. Meanwhile, the police and the Ab-e-Sard Damavand police station are searching for the person who recorded the video.”
Recently, there has been a surge in xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiment in Iran, with reports of police violence against migrants. It is said that even migrants with legal residency are being arrested and deported by the police on various pretexts.
This comes at a time when the security and economic situation in Afghanistan has become critical following the Taliban's return to power. Consequently, the majority of people, especially the youth, are migrating to neighboring countries, including Iran, for survival.
Police Violence Against an Afghan Migrant in Damavand, Tehran