Over 30,000 Afghan Migrants Detained in Turkey Since Start of 2025
More than 30,000 Afghan nationals living in Turkey without legal documentation have been detained since the beginning of 2025, according to an official statement by the Turkish Interior Ministry.
This figure places Afghan citizens at the top of the list of undocumented migrants in Turkey. Overall, Turkish authorities report that more than 122,000 irregular migrants from various countries have been detained across the country during the same period.
Following Afghan nationals, citizens of Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran make up the next largest groups arrested.
The increasing pressure on Afghan migrants comes amid a larger wave of displacement following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. Many Afghans have fled the country due to fears of persecution, poverty, and insecurity. However, the widespread detention and deportation of migrants without proper legal and humanitarian provisions have raised serious human rights concerns.
Several human rights organizations have repeatedly called on countries like Turkey to treat Afghan migrants with dignity and to ensure their safety—especially as the Taliban administration has not only failed to provide security inside Afghanistan, but has also intensified repression, discrimination, and the suppression of civil rights, leading to further despair and emigration.
