UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Independent Probe into Killing of Two Former Afghan Soldiers in Iran

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, on Monday called for an independent and transparent investigation into the killing of Ikramuddin Saree and Mohamademin Almas, two former Afghan soldiers, in Iran. He emphasized that those responsible for this incident must be identified and held accountable.

Expressing deep concern over the incident, Bennett wrote in a statement on the social media platform X that these killings must be independently investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. Without providing further details, he stressed the necessity of accountability and preventing such incidents from happening again.

At the same time, the Coordination Council of Afghan Diplomatic and Consular Missions also issued a statement expressing concern over the increase in targeted attacks against former members of Afghanistan’s security forces. The council described this trend as worrying and warned that the continuation of such events further weakens the security and mental well-being of former soldiers.

Ikramuddin Saree had served as a police commander in the provinces of Nuristan, Baghlan, and Takhar during the previous government and remained in his last position until shortly before the fall of that government. After leaving Afghanistan, he went to Iran and, according to his close associates, assisted several former security personnel with documentation and residency issues there.

While many former soldiers have faced threats, restrictions, and insecurity since the Taliban took over, critics say the lack of practical guarantees for protecting these individuals has exposed them to danger both inside and outside the country. This issue again raises questions about the Taliban administration’s accountability and approach toward former security forces.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that investigations related to this incident are ongoing and that the results will be announced at an appropriate time.