SAEDNEWS: In a rare public rebuke, Sheikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdulhamid has criticised Iran’s sweeping expulsion of undocumented Afghan migrants, calling for due process and respect for human dignity.
According to Saed News, Sheikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdulhamid—one of Iran’s most respected Sunni leaders—has voiced deep concern over Tehran’s recent campaign to expel large numbers of Afghan nationals. In remarks posted to his official Twitter account, he urged the Iranian government to distinguish between lawbreakers and law‑abiding migrants, to apply justice fairly, and to ensure that any repatriations occur with “appropriate notice” and “preservation of dignity.”
The cleric’s intervention comes amid heightened tensions on the Iran–Afghanistan border, where economic hardship and security concerns have prompted Tehran to intensify its enforcement actions. While the Iranian authorities maintain that the deportations target only those without legal status, rights groups warn of “collective punishment” and the risk of exposing vulnerable families to violence or exploitation once returned.
Sheikh Abdulhamid—who leads the influential Zahedan seminary and speaks for millions of Iran’s Sunni minority—cast the two countries as “neighbours bound by historic ties and shared interests.” He praised Iranians’ “warm welcome” of Afghan brothers and sisters as proof of a relationship rooted in mutual respect. His call for measured, humane treatment underscores the delicate balancing act facing Iran: safeguarding domestic stability without undermining its longstanding role as a refuge for Afghans fleeing conflict.
Observers say the cleric’s appeal may carry weight with moderate factions in Tehran, even as hard‑liners press for tougher measures. International agencies, meanwhile, have urged both governments to coordinate on legal pathways for migrants and to uphold basic human rights standards.
Tweet Translation
Sheikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdulhamid (@AbdolhamidNet):
“Iran and Afghanistan are two neighbours bound by historical ties and common interests. The warm reception Iranians extend to their Afghan brothers and sisters attests to the depth of these relations. We expect that only those who violate the law will be dealt with justly, and that, if necessary, the return of others will be carried out with due notice and with the preservation of their honour and dignity.”
