KABUL (SW) – The Human Rights Organization of Iran has reported that following the establishment of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, the execution of Afghans in Iran has surged.
According to the report, over 90 Afghans have been executed in Iranian prisons over the past three years. The organization added that in the first 10 months of 2024, at least 49 Afghans have been executed in Iran, with the sentences of 13 individuals carried out in October alone.
Dawood Mayar, a legal expert in international relations, said that to ensure transparency in the handling of cases involving the execution of foreign citizens, this process should be monitored through the relevant embassies in those countries.
“If a suspect is executed in a second country, there are various ways for transparency and oversight; for instance, consular relations can provide oversight. Unfortunately, the current situation lacks transparency; there are even rumors suggesting that there may be a misuse of this diplomatic situation,” he added.
Habib Sufi, a legal and criminal affairs expert, noted that host country can legally deal with suspects and offenders from other countries according to its own laws. However, he added that through diplomatic relations, it is possible to facilitate the transfer of a suspect back to their home country for trial.
“From a diplomatic perspective, if there are good relations with another country, when their case is reviewed and a judgment is issued, there is still the possibility of exchanging them. If diplomatic efforts are made, they can exchange the suspect,” Sufi said.
Although the de-facto government does not specifically comment on the execution of Afghans in Iran, Hamdullah Fetrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated that the government is working to facilitate the transfer of Afghans imprisoned in Iran back to Afghanistan.
He added: “We are trying to reach an agreement with the Iranian side to transfer prisoners convicted of various charges in Iran back to our country. So far, with the cooperation of Iran, we have managed to transfer approximately four thousand prisoners to Afghanistan.”
According to reports, there are currently 5 million Afghans living in Iran, most of whom have entered the country without documentation.
