Iran’s Parliament Approves General Framework of National Migration Organization Bill
The Joint Commission for Reviewing the Bill on the Structure, Duties, and Authorities of the National Migration Organization in Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly has approved the general framework of the bill. According to Seyed Morteza Mahmoudi, spokesperson for the commission, the aim of passing this bill is to regulate the situation of foreign migrants in Iran.
In remarks made on Monday, October 12, Mahmoudi stated that the current law related to migration affairs in Iran dates back to 1936 and, due to its antiquity, organizing migrants faces numerous legal obstacles. He acknowledged that the absence of a unified institution and the presence of several decision-making bodies have created serious gaps in managing migrant affairs.
He added that one of the major demands of the Iranian people has been the organization of foreign nationals, which has also been emphasized in Iran’s Seventh Development Plan. Mahmoudi said that in yesterday’s session, the joint commission members, while exchanging views on the general framework of the bill, stressed the necessity of reforming current structures to reduce the presence of migrants in the country.
According to this bill, the National Migration Organization is to be established as a centralized and specialized institution responsible for regulating and managing migrant affairs, including those of Afghan nationals. Mahmoudi called on government agencies to submit their proposals for the detailed review of the bill’s provisions in writing.
The joint commission consists of the parliamentary commissions on Internal Affairs, National Security, Social Affairs, and Legal Affairs. This commission is tasked with reviewing the bill from a specialized perspective and finalizing its approval. It is worth noting that in recent years, Afghan nationals have suffered significantly due to the lack of clarity in Iran’s migration laws, arbitrary enforcement, and lack of guarantees for their human rights.
