Afghan Protesters Set Fire to Iran’s Consulate Gate in Herat

A group of Afghan protesters who were demonstrating against “mistreatment of migrants in Iran” set fire to the gate of Iran’s consulate in Herat on Monday, the 22nd of Farvardin.

Simultaneously, a group of protesters gathered in front of Iran’s embassy in Kabul on Monday and chanted slogans against the Islamic Republic.

Reports indicate that these gatherings were dispersed by Taliban aerial gunfire.

Images circulated on social media show stone-throwing, burning of tires, breaking of security cameras at Iranian diplomatic facilities, and the setting fire to the gate of Iran’s consulate in Herat.

France Press Agency reported that these protests occurred following the circulation of a video on social media showing Afghan migrants being beaten by Iranian police, with protesters chanting “Death to Iran” in front of Iran’s consulate in Herat.

The report stated that the number of Afghan migrants to Iran has increased to five million following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

The report states: In one of the videos, Iranian police beat an Afghan migrant in a room, and in another video, a group of people drag an Afghan migrant on the ground and beat him.

France Press Agency says the source and location of these incidents remain unknown.

On the other hand, in recent days, fines for employing unauthorized foreign nationals in Iran have significantly increased, a matter that has added to concerns about the livelihoods of Afghan migrants in Iran.

Also, following the knife attack incident against three Iranian seminarians in Mashhad by an Uzbek-origin citizen, a number of Afghan migrants reported increased harassment and mistreatment in Iran.

In this regard, Radio Farda reported that a number of civil activists held a protest gathering in front of Iran’s embassy in Kabul and demanded an end to “mistreatment of Afghans in Iran.”

These protesting civil activists described the “recent mistreatment of Afghans by Iranian police” as “a blatant violation of human rights.”

One of the protesters and civil activists, who wished to remain anonymous, told Radio Farda: “These Afghans should be asked, what is human rights? That you shout, the world exists, Islamic countries exist, and today these very Islamic countries have become the curse of our lives. Those who have committed these crimes should be handed over to justice and punished.”

A women’s protest movement was scheduled to take place in Kabul today but was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Meanwhile, Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Taliban, and Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, met with Iran’s ambassador to Kabul.

In a statement from the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, it was stated that Mr. Muttaqi, in a meeting with Bahadur Aminyan, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, raised his concerns about “mistreatment of Afghans in Iran” and called for an end to these actions.

In this statement, quoting Iran’s ambassador, it states: “After two clerics were killed with a knife and one person was wounded in the holy shrine of Imam Reza, some hostile groups in a planned conspiracy launched negative propaganda in the media aimed at creating hatred and mistrust between the peoples of friendly and neighboring countries.”

The statement said that Iran’s ambassador to Kabul also stated that “his government does not intend to mistreat Afghan migrants and will always seek to preserve close and trustworthy relations between the two countries.”

On the other hand, Hamid Karzai also met with Iran’s ambassador in his office and discussed bilateral relations and recent disturbances.

In a statement from Mr. Karzai’s office, it was stated that both sides emphasized good relations and mutual respect.

Saied Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, on Monday in response to the gatherings in front of Iranian diplomatic facilities, announced that the protection and safeguarding of the security of diplomatic facilities is the definite responsibility of the ruling authority overseeing Afghanistan (Taliban).

He added: “Some clips and statements are being circulated with the aim of Iranophobia or Afghanistanphobia, targeting the incitement of emotions of the people of the two countries, and requiring greater vigilance from the people and officials of both countries.”

Source: Radio Farda