A human rights organization has warned that tightened security measures in Iran following the recent conflict have significantly increased administrative and judicial challenges facing Afghan migrants, leaving many, particularly women and children, at greater risk of legal uncertainty and reduced access to justice.
The HANA Human Rights Organization said in a report published on Sunday that thousands of Afghan migrants in Iran remain unable to register essential civil status events, including marriages, divorces, births, parentage and other family relationships because of the absence of effective registration mechanisms.
According to the report, the lack of legal documentation has restricted migrants’ access to courts and prevented many from exercising rights related to child custody, inheritance, alimony, compensation claims, insurance benefits and other legal protections. HANA said these longstanding challenges have become more severe following the recent conflict and the tightening of security measures across Iran.
The organization said increased security checks, disruptions to public services, restricted access to administrative and judicial institutions, and fears of arrest or deportation have discouraged many Afghan migrants from pursuing legal claims or seeking assistance from government institutions.
HANA said women and children have been disproportionately affected by the situation. According to the report, the lack of official registration exposes many to greater risks of domestic violence, unregistered marriages, legal invisibility, statelessness, exploitation and exclusion from legal protections. Without formal recognition of family relationships, many women and children are unable to assert their legal rights under Iranian law, the organization said.
The report called on Iranian authorities to ensure that all migrants, regardless of their legal status, can register civil status documents and access judicial remedies. It said no one should be denied legal recognition of fundamental life events or access to justice solely because of their nationality or immigration status.
Iran hosts one of the world’s largest Afghan migrant and refugee populations, including both documented and undocumented residents. Many Afghans have fled decades of conflict, economic hardship and political instability, with large numbers arriving after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
In recent months, Iranian authorities have expanded security measures and deportation operations involving undocumented Afghan migrants. International organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly expressed concern over the protection of Afghan refugees and migrants and have urged states to ensure that migration enforcement measures comply with international human rights and refugee law.
HANA warned that unless legal and administrative barriers are addressed, deteriorating conditions following the recent conflict could deepen legal insecurity for Afghan migrants and increase the risk of continued rights violations, particularly affecting women and children.
