The Paradox of Attachment to and Criticism of Iran: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Noohullah, known as Naji Bigzad, was a young writer from Badakhshan province who reportedly lost his life in an accident while working in one of the gold mines in the region. He was buried yesterday, Thursday, in a ceremony held in the Shaki area of Badakhshan province.

Several media outlets, including Afghanistan International and Hasht-e Sobh newspaper, have covered Naji Bigzad’s life, highlighting some of his characteristics, particularly his critical views on Iran.

The media attention on his resume and life sparked my curiosity about his background and viewpoints. The main source was his Facebook page, which I decided to review thoroughly. It is often said that a person’s character and identity are revealed through their language or writings. Therefore, I spent last night browsing through Naji’s posts until the morning call for prayer. Given that summer nights are short and dawn comes early, I was able to devote less than four hours to studying his notes. Thus, my information about this young man from Badakhshan is incomplete and limited to the writings I reviewed.

After the fall of the Afghan government, Naji moved to Iran, followed later by his family. Upon entering Iran legally with a passport, Naji worked as a security guard in various companies and factories in Isfahan. Holding a master’s degree in political science, he shared bitter stories about the treatment he received from Iranian employers and the lack of kindness from the host country, which he mentioned in his notes.

Naji was a Tajik young man who did not hide his political leanings toward Ahmad Shah Massoud and Salahuddin Rabbani, the leader of one faction of Afghanistan’s Hezb-e Islami (Islamic Gathering Party). For this reason, Salahuddin, son of the late Burhanuddin Rabbani, sent condolences after Naji’s passing.

Another notable aspect of Naji’s character was his love, as a young Sunni Muslim, for Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). His note from last week, written on the occasion of Ashura, reflects his deep admiration for Imam Hussein.

However, what is particularly significant is Naji’s attachment to Iran, which paradoxically coexisted with his critical stance toward Iranian migration policies.

In Mordad/Jawza (June/July) of last year, during the twelve-day Iran-Israel conflict, Naji appeared as a supporter of Iran, expressing his affinity through multiple posts.

Amid this conflict, Afghan migrants in Iran were accused of collaborating with the enemy. This accusation, fueled by a backdrop of Afghanophobia and anti-migrant sentiments in Iran, ultimately led to the expulsion of thousands of Afghan citizens during the summer heat.

At this time, Naji appeared as a critic of Iranian migration policies, addressing in his writings the unfair treatment of migrants by the Iranian government. In one of his notes dated July 12, 2025 (corresponding to 21 Tir/Saratan 1404 in the Persian calendar), he wrote that despite holding a passport and being legally present in Iran, he could no longer tolerate the injustice, insults, and humiliation. Continuing, he said:

“In this condition, and in protest against the current wretched situation, the only thing I can do is end this humiliating life in Iran and return to the hell of the Taliban. Because if the body is at risk in that hell, the soul suffers here.”

Thus, Naji returned to Afghanistan, reviving the story of Abdul Qahar Asi, a contemporary Afghan poet who traveled to Iran but eventually returned and died in Afghanistan.

Despite the hardships he experienced in Iran, upon returning to Afghanistan Naji did not renounce his affection for Iran. His writings in support of Iran during the recent forty-day war testify to this reality.

The fundamental question now is: can one be both attached to and critical of Iran?

The answer is yes. While Iran offers many virtues and benefits to migrants, its policies regarding them are not without flaws and imperfections. A sincere and true friend of Iran is someone who acknowledges both the country’s merits and its shortcomings.

One-dimensional individuals who see the world only in black or white are neither successful nor trustworthy. Many Afghan citizens living outside Iran proclaim friendship toward Iran but fail to recognize its defects, and thus are not complete individuals. This rule also applies to Iran’s opponents, who see only the faults and flaws in the country.