KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, expressed deep concern over the situation of millions of Afghan migrants in Iran amid escalating US and Israeli airstrikes on the country.
In a post on X on Thursday, Bennett highlighted that many Afghans in Iran live without legal status or community support, with single women particularly at risk. He urged de-escalation and accountability, emphasizing that war is not the answer and only makes the situation worse.
The UN estimates that roughly four million Afghan migrants reside in Iran. Following the outbreak of hostilities and a widespread internet blackout, families in Afghanistan remain largely unaware of the safety and condition of their relatives in Iran, heightening concern and anxiety.
Bennett’s comments came as military confrontations continue between Iran, Israel, and the United States. The US-Israeli operation has reportedly caused hundreds of casualties in Iran, including senior political and military figures.
Iran has responded with missile strikes targeting Israel and US military bases in Gulf countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Casualties have been reported among US service members and in Israel.
Bennett also joined other UN experts in condemning the attacks by the United States and Israel as unlawful, citing violations of the UN Charter’s prohibitions on the use of force, sovereign equality, territorial integrity and the duty to settle disputes peacefully under Article 2. The experts also stated the strikes violate the right to life.
In their joint statement, the experts also expressed serious concern over Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf and broader Middle East, stressing that any use of force in self-defense must meet the requirements of necessity and proportionality.
The experts called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and resume diplomatic dialogue, emphasizing that peaceful negotiation is the only sustainable solution.
“These attacks do not strike military abstractions – they strike people,” the experts said.
The conflict, now in its fifth day, shows no immediate signs of de-escalation, with ongoing strikes reported across the region.
