TALUQAN (SW) – Abdullah is the pseudonym of a 13-year-old child from Takhar province of Afghanistan who was recently deported from Iran.
Along with his mother and two brothers, Abdullah embarked on the treacherous journey eight months ago to reach Shiraz city in Iran.
After arriving in Iran, Abdullah worked in a garden to pay back the money to the human trafficker who sent him to Iran. He would carry out hard labor every day for 50 thousand Iranian tomans. However, the employer did not pay his salary for 5 months, and handed him to the police when he insisted for money. The Iranian police rushed to deport Abdullah without informing his family.
He shared with Salam Watandar the tragic tale of abuse, insult and extortion during the journey on the way to Iran. He also said to have witnessed bodies of people who died on the way to Iran dreaming for a better life. The Iranian police did not even allow him to collect his belongings before deporting him.
The National Referral Mechanism to Help Victims of Trafficking in Persons and Trafficked Migrants (NRM) has been developed by the high commission for refugees and anti-trafficking. The purpose of it is to protect victims of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, and one of its main objectives is to establish coordination between governmental and non-governmental agencies to protect victims.
The Article 7 of the National Remediation Mechanism for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Persons and Trafficking in Migrants (NRM) reads: "If the victim of trafficking in person and trafficking in migrants is a child, [information related to the identity of the victim] should be sent to the relevant authorities within 25 hours, the children referred to this paragraph must be surrendered to their family in six months. If one does not receive a family member or anyone in that capacity for care, the victim should be handed over to the social support centers. "
This Article clearly applies on Abdullah who has not reached the legal age and should have been under the care of state institutions until he finally reunites to his family.
But, he is not the only child losing his childhood in quest for a better life and embarking on dangerous journey to Pakistan. There have been many children who went through all these difficulties for a life without hunger and threats.
Naseer, the pseudonym of another such a child from Herat province, who thought travelling to Iran would be as simple as any of the childhood’s plays. He was lured by the human traffickers to pay two million tomans for a presumable life full of happiness in Iran.
He was traded among traffickers and outlawed gangs in Pakistan and Afghanistan before he crossed-over to Iran via Nimroz. Many among his companions were nabbed by the border guards.
This minor boy was only deported to Afghanistan after enduring physical and psychological abuse inflicted upon him by the Iranian police. He said life became miserable from the moment he left his home for Iran.
Another minor, 15-year-old Mohammad, is also from Takhar. He shared similar tale of agony also faced by Naseer and Abdullah. He said even the human traffickers abused them before they were deported back to Afghanistan from Iran.
Based on the Articles 2 and 3 of the National Remediation Mechanism for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Persons and Trafficking in Migrants (NRM), the victims and their family should be aware about each other’s state, and should have the opportunity to access justice. It also called for assurance of the safety of the victim’s family.
Naseer and Mohammad should have been treated in line with these Articles. Also, the corresponding institutions should establish their contact with their respected families.
Jawed Nadem, director refugees and repatriation in Herat, said up to 146,000 Afghans have been deported by Iran this year so far. He acknowledged reports about Iranian police persecuting these deportees. He, however, stressed the victims have not lodged reports.
However, a number of civil society activists have underlined that the harassment by the Iranian police has become quite a routine. And, despite repeated complaints, authorities in Afghanistan or Iran have not ensured measures to address the situation.
Jawed Amed, one of the civil society activist, said a protest demonstration was held in front of the Iranian Consulate in Herat, but to no avail.
Jailani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Salam Watandar in connection with the deportation of the minors from Iran that the issue has been raised with the officials from Tehran, and they have been urged to stop deportation of minors in line with the international norms and the friendly bilateral ties.
In the meantime, the regional office of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission has clarified that the trafficking of minors is taking place through organized gangs in the country. The AIHRC has raised concerns over the state of Afghan refugees in Iran. It has urged the Afghan diplomatic mission in Iran to take this issue up with the authorities in Iran.
The Iranian diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, however, has rejected allegations of persecution of the refugees in Iran, and has noted everyone without legal documents of stay ought to be deported.
ENDS
