MOSCOW, December 21 (Sputnik) Irans six-month visa extension to450,000 Afghan refugees is helpful butdoes not spare the refugees fromthe threat ofdeportation due tono access toasylum status amidthe country's ongoing civil war, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said ina report Sunday.The visa extension wont remedy a broken asylum system that routinely results inthe detention and deportation ofunregistered Afghans withoutaccess torefugee status, due process, or an opportunity forlegal appeal oftheir forced removal, senior Afghanistan researcher atHRW Patricia Gossman, was quoted assaying inthe report published onthe organizations website.
The HRW added that Iran has a virtually non-existent asylum system leading toonly 840,000 ofsome 3 million Afghan refugees living inIran withlegal status.
"These policies pose a serious risk to Afghan asylum seekers who have fled or may flee armed conflict, persecution, and insecurity inAfghanistan, the report stated.
On December 13, Iran announced that the countrys government would offer the six month visa extension asa reflection of brotherly relations withAfghanistan while the country made plans toreintegrate the 450,000 refugees upontheir return, asstated bythe HRW. The extended visa would allow the refugees totemporarily work and forthe Afghan children toattend Iranian schools.
As violence betweenTaliban insurgents, local militias and government forces escalates, and withNATO troops preparing toformally end their combat mission inAfghanistan onDecember 31, the HRW also expressed concern aboutthe increased risk faced byAfghan refugees forced toreturn.
By Sputnik News
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