Afghan Women Face Hardship and Fear After Mass Deportations from Iran

Afghan Women Face Hardship and Fear After Mass Deportations from Iran
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Thousands of Afghan women deported from Iran are now struggling with homelessness, unemployment, and strict Taliban restrictions in Afghanistan. Aid agencies warn that female-headed households face heightened risks amid collapsing support systems and widespread gender-based barriers.

More details in this report:
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Thousands of Afghan women deported from Iran in recent weeks are facing mounting challenges and insecurity under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, The Guardian reported. Among the estimated 800,000 undocumented Afghans forcibly returned between June 1 and July 23, over 150,000 were women, many of them returning without a male guardian.

Humanitarian organizations warn that a growing number of female-headed households are being left homeless and jobless. Under Taliban restrictions, women cannot rent housing without a male relative, are barred from most employment opportunities, and are unable to access healthcare unless accompanied by a man.

Real estate agents say renting to unaccompanied women could result in arrest by Taliban intelligence, effectively excluding women from the housing market. According to the International Organization for Migration, about 8% of the returned women are leading households alone. Many are now living in fear, particularly those with past ties to abusive relationships or who are fleeing domestic violence. Some have sought shelter with extended family, while others are without secure accommodations altogether.

With few legal means to earn a livelihood, women are forced into underground work such as tailoring or home-based services. Even those with professional skills say they are unable to work openly due to strict gender regulations. Several returnees reported losing all their possessions during deportation, arriving in Afghanistan with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

Women returning alone with children also face trauma and mental health challenges. Some were separated from their children during detention and deportation processes in Iran. With no passports and limited access to visas, many are unable to reunite with family members or seek safety elsewhere.

Aid agencies say the current support systems are overwhelmed, unable to meet the needs of the rising number of displaced women. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, organizations are calling for urgent international support and policy change to protect the rights and safety of Afghan women forcibly returned to a country under strict gender-based restrictions.