The attractiveness of Iran for Afghan migrants.

According to statistics from the International Organization for Migration, after the Taliban regained control, seventy percent of Afghan refugees have migrated to Iran. Despite the actions taken and the negative attitude of Iranian society towards migrants, which is also prominent in Afghanistan, what secret lies in choosing “Iran”?

In response to this question, there are many reasons that can be mentioned, the most important of which are: existence. Religious institutions in Iran, the discourse of Ayatollah Khomeini, proximity, informal migration networks, cultural commonalities, employment and job placement, dual functions of migration, etc. 

Islam has no borders.The Islamic Republic’s policy towards Afghan immigrants was accompanied by a welcoming approach, following the mass migration of Afghans due to the invasion of the Soviet Red Army. This ideology was supported by the former leader of Iran (Ruhollah Khomeini) and the Islamic ideology with the slogan “Islam has no borders”. The open-door policy was ended with the end of the Iran-Iraq war and the defeat of the Red Army in Afghanistan. At the beginning of this period, in addition to returning about one million immigrants to Afghanistan, restrictive policies and government and public pressures on immigrants began. It is noteworthy that even during the period of maximum pressure on immigrants or closed-door policies, Afghan migration to Iran did not completely stop; especially with the start of internal wars in Afghanistan that led to the rise of the Taliban, the migration continued. Studies show that government or public pressures and restrictions on Afghan migration to Iran have not had a significant impact on their migration decisions. This policy and the implementation of maximum pressure 

The opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is insignificant.

In all countries around the world, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for managing immigrants and refugees. Recent events have shown that in Iran, these responsibilities have apparently been taken away from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and this department has become the executor of orders. Therefore, any statements made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Afghan immigrants have had no significant impact on public opinion. The rumors and ambiguities surrounding the lack of authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot have satisfactory results for the country. The government institution has a great responsibility in this sensitive period to convince public opinion and prevent the people’s feelings from being hurt towards the phenomenon of Afghan migration. The concerns that have occupied the minds of the Iranian people include: how to deal with the children of immigrants, violent actions by Afghans, mental insecurity, monopolization of job opportunities, unrestricted coming and going, giving Afghan citizens the right to vote in Iranian elections (according to some officials’ statements), and anything else that may provoke public opinion.