UN human rights experts confirm Afghan citizens among victims of recent Iran protests

United Nations human rights experts confirmed that Afghan citizens were among those detained and killed during recent nationwide protests in Iran. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the experts stated that the majority of detainees and fatalities were ordinary people, including children, from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, with Afghans present among them.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, specified that Afghan migrants were among those killed, noting that around 5 million Afghan migrants live in Iran, though he provided no specific casualty figures. The experts urged Iranian authorities to disclose the fate and whereabouts of detainees, disappeared persons, and missing individuals, and to halt all executions and sentences related to the protests.

Families across Iran have been unable to locate relatives in hospitals, detention centers, or morgues, according to the experts. Iranian officials have not released statistics on Afghan victims.

Casualty figures vary widely. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that 32,000 people were killed in a short period, describing the situation as "very, very, very sad." Iran International reported at least 36,500 deaths, with Time magazine citing similar numbers. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed 3,117 deaths, referring to them as victims of "recent terrorist operations," including about 200 security forces personnel, and challenged claims by calling for evidence.