Uncertain Fate of Hundreds of Afghan Migrants in Iraq
Hundreds of Afghan migrants who paid traffickers to travel to Iraq now face harsh realities; some are imprisoned due to lack of legal documents, while others, unable to find jobs, are seeking ways to return to Afghanistan.
Reports indicate that widespread poverty, unemployment, and despair over economic improvement have trapped many job-seeking youth in the promises of human trafficking networks. In recent years, dozens of these young people have lost their lives on dangerous migration routes, particularly at the borders of Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Balkan countries.
In recent months, alongside dwindling job opportunities in Iran, increased security measures by Turkey to protect borders, and the expulsion of undocumented migrants, traffickers active in the region have extensively promoted the Iraq route. They have released videos on the social media platform TikTok, claiming good job prospects in Iraq and urging young people to contact them for travel arrangements.
These messages, broadcast in Pashto and Dari languages, have attracted significant attention from citizens. However, the lack of effective oversight over traffickers’ activities and the Taliban administration’s inability to address the unemployment crisis and create domestic job opportunities have paved the way for this risky trend to continue, seriously threatening the lives of many families.
