KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A teenage Afghan migrant has died in Iranian police custody in Tehran after being severely tortured, local sources told KabulNow.
The victim, Usmandullah Armani, was from Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan. He had been living and working in Iran for the past two years.
According to sources familiar with the case, Iranian police arrested Armani in Tehran about a week ago, and he died in custody after enduring severe torture.
His body was transferred back to Afghanistan via the Nimruz crossing and buried in Nangarhar two days ago, the sources added.
The incident comes amid rising reports of mistreatment of Afghan migrants in Iran. In recent weeks, rights groups and returning migrants have reported a significant increase in arbitrary detentions, beatings, and abuse of Afghans by Iranian authorities.
Last month, a 60-year-old Afghan man was reported to have died in an Iranian detention facility near the border due to mistreatment and what sources described as “inhumane conditions” inside the facility.
The crackdown on Afghan nationals has intensified since Iran’s conflict with Israel ended last month. Iranian officials and state media have accused some Afghan migrants of spying for Israel. Activists say the allegations are baseless, but they have fueled discrimination, violence against Afghan migrants, and a surge in deportations.
According to the UN reports, more than one million Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran since the start of 2025. Nearly 600,000 of them were returned in recent weeks, with at least 70% forcibly removed. Children account for around 25% of those deported.
Human rights groups have called on Iranian authorities to investigate cases of abuse against Afghan migrants and ensure they are treated in accordance with international law.
