Iran supreme leader khamenei Criticizes India Over Islamic Unity While Iran Neglects Afghan Refugees

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Recently, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, called upon the Islamic Ummah to adopt a narrative of victimhood for Muslims in India, drawing a parallel with the situation in Gaza. He urged for solidarity among Muslims worldwide, highlighting their collective suffering in places like Myanmar, Gaza, and India. However, Khamenei’s appeal for unity starkly contrasts with his own treatment of Afghan refugees in Iran.

Khamenei’s remarks labeled India and other nations as “Enemies of Islam,” suggesting that these enemies seek to dilute the Islamic Ummah’s unity. He argued that true Muslims cannot ignore the hardships faced by fellow Muslims globally. Yet, while criticizing India—where the Muslim population has grown significantly and enjoys numerous freedoms and welfare benefits—Khamenei overlooks the plight of Afghan refugees in Iran, who are being labeled as “illegal foreigners.”

Recently, Iranian authorities have announced plans to deport over 2 million Afghan refugees, citing them as illegal migrants. Ahmad-Reza Radan, the Iranian police chief, confirmed that actions are being taken against these so-called illegal foreigners. Despite these Afghans seeking refuge in Iran as fellow Muslims, they are instead being dismissed as burdens. Last May, Iran’s Interior Ministry reported deporting more than 1.3 million irregular migrants to Afghanistan in the past year. Afghan refugees, who have assimilated into Iranian society and provide cheap labor, are regarded as a strain on the local job market.

Activists and journalists who highlight the dire conditions faced by Afghan refugees in Iran face significant backlash. For example, Jila Baniyaghoob, a women’s rights activist, has received threats and hostility for speaking out on behalf of Afghan migrants.

Instances of violence against Afghan refugees have been reported, especially after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. According to the UNHCR, there are around 4.5 million Afghan refugees in Iran, though Iranian estimates suggest a higher number. In July, Tehran saw banners urging Afghan refugees to leave following violent incidents involving Afghan nationals. The Danish Refugee Council reports that nearly 485,000 Afghans were deported from Iran in 2022, with projections for 2023 indicating a further increase. The International Organization for Migration has recorded close to 400,000 Afghan returnees since January 2024, amid a narrowing of protection options in Iran.

Khamenei’s concern for the Islamic Ummah appears disingenuous. While he denounces perceived mistreatment of Muslims in India, his administration is building a 74-kilometer concrete wall topped with barbed wire to prevent Afghan refugees from entering Iran.

The Indian Foreign Ministry has rightly pointed out that nations criticizing others should first address their own issues. Iran should resolve its internal challenges and avoid straining relations with India over unfounded accusations of mistreatment. Khamenei’s criticism of India, juxtaposed with Iran’s deportation of Afghan refugees—who fled Taliban rule for a supposed sanctuary in Iran—highlights a glaring inconsistency in his claims of Muslim unity.

Rather than offering a sanctuary, Iran’s treatment of Afghan refugees demonstrates a preference for nationalistic over religious considerations. When India faces similar issues, Khamenei’s rhetoric casts it as an “enemy of Islam,” aimed at stirring communal discord in a predominantly Hindu country.

Historically, India and Iran have maintained strong ties, such as through the Chabahar port partnership. However, recent tensions have emerged as Khamenei employs religious rhetoric to assert his leadership among Muslims globally while ignoring the struggles of Afghan Muslims within Iran. India, with its substantial Muslim population, does not require lectures from Iran—a country where even Muslim women face severe restrictions and dissenting voices are often repressed under the guise of moral policing, as seen in the recent anti-Hijab protests advocating for freedom and rights.