Iran Executes 10 Afghans in September Amidst Concerns of Unfair Trials

Iran, known for its high rate of executions, has recently intensified its legal measures against Afghan immigrants. Following the conflict with Israel, the Iranian government has repatriated a significant number of Afghans. According to Hengaw, an Iranian human rights organization, approximately ten Afghan citizens were executed in Iran during September. The report indicates that Iran executed at least 187 people in September, a startling figure representing a 140% increase in executions compared to the previous year. In September of the prior year, 78 prisoners were executed, making this year’s number the highest in two decades. Hengaw previously reported that around a thousand people were executed in Iran over the last nine months, including 65 Afghan nationals. This data suggests that the Iranian government may be unfairly targeting Afghans or viewing them with suspicion, preventing them from proving their innocence. Some reports suggest that Afghan immigrants in Iran are viewed with suspicion and are perceived as opponents of the Shia government, possibly due to the Sunni majority in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s image as a hardline Sunni regime. Legal expert Rohullah Sakhizada stated that such sentencing by courts without considering fundamental rights violates both international law and the Iranian legal framework. Furthermore, it is believed that defendants in Iran are not provided with legal counsel to prove their innocence, and courts are issuing sentences accordingly.