Zahra, a 23-year-old Afghan refugee in Iran, lives in fear of her husband being arrested and deported back to Afghanistan. 1.35 million Afghan refugees have left Iran recently, facing arbitrary arrests and deportations. Despite living in Iran for years, Zahra has only temporary residence status. Many Afghans, blamed for social issues, face crackdown from Iranian authorities, especially after recent conflicts. An open letter from over 1,300 activists calls for an end to the repression of Afghan refugees and urges the Iranian people to oppose these deportations.
"He can be arrested at any time on his way to work or home and deported to Afghanistan, like so many others," said Zahra.
"I'm listed in my parents' family passport, which is valid until September," she explained.
Many were arrested and deported, while others returned voluntarily for fear of arbitrary arrest.
More than 1,300 Iranian and Afghan activists, journalists, artists, and citizens have written an open letter to the Iranian government.
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