Afghan students in Shiraz protest against school enrollment ban in Iran

As the new academic year began in Iran, Afghan refugees, especially students, protested in front of the UNHCR office in Shiraz on Sunday.

Afghan refugees stated that Iranian schools are not enrolling Afghan students this year.

Afghan students and their families protested against the refusal of their admission to Iranian schools, calling on the UN to intervene.

A video of the protest shows Afghan refugees chanting, “Education is our right,” demanding the UN help secure their children’s education in Iran.

In Shiraz, authorities reportedly denied Afghan boys the right to enroll, with some school officials saying, “There’s no place for Afghans. Don’t study, the school is closed. Pack up and leave.”

Despite the Iranian Minister of Education announcing that provisions were in place for enrolling Afghan students, many reports indicate continued barriers for these students.

In several provinces, including Kerman and Shiraz, schools have refused to enrol Afghan children, citing a lack of documentation as a reason for the ban.

The plight of Afghan refugees in Iran continues to be a serious humanitarian concern, with thousands of children being denied their right to education. While Iranian officials have made promises, the reality on the ground remains harsh, leaving many Afghan families in despair as they seek a better future for their children.

This comes amid the forced deportation of Afghan refugees, including those with valid documents and registered with UNHCR. It urges the international community, particularly UNHCR, to intervene and protect the rights of refugees in Iran and neighboring countries.

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