500 Afghan Prisoners to Be Transferred from Iran
An Iranian judicial official announced that 500 Afghan prisoners currently held in Iran will be transferred to Afghanistan.
According to the official, a list of these prisoners has been sent to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for identity verification. Once confirmed, the first phase of the transfer process will commence. The official also stated that two to three phases of prisoner transfers are expected to be completed by the end of this solar year.
Askar Jalalian, Deputy for Human Rights and International Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Justice, was quoted by an Iranian media outlet as saying: “We have prepared a list of 500 prisoners and sent it to Afghanistan to confirm their identities. Once their response is received, the transfer will take place.”
Asifa Stanekzai, a migration rights analyst, stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts to secure the release and exchange of imprisoned individuals across countries: “There is a need for diplomatic discussions to secure the release and exchange of individuals imprisoned in various countries.”
Askar Jalalian said that most Afghan prisoners in Iran are migrants convicted of crimes such as drug trafficking, theft, and murder.
Salim Paigir, a political analyst, shared his perspective on the transfer process: “The transfer of Afghan prisoners from Iran is a positive step. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should maintain contact with Iranian authorities to ensure that all Afghan prisoners in Iran are transferred to Kabul, preventing arbitrary punishments and executions by Iran.”
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, highlighted the progress already made in transferring Afghan prisoners: “Approximately 4,000 prisoners have been transferred to Afghanistan at various times over the past three years. We are eager for other Afghan prisoners in Iran to also be transferred so they can serve their sentences in Afghanistan. This would uphold their rights and allow them to be closer to their families.”
This announcement follows a visit by an Iranian delegation to Kabul on November 15 to discuss the situation of prisoners in both countries with Islamic Emirate officials.
