Iran

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Yes

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

Refugees

3,425,091

2022

Asylum Applications

34

2022

International Migrants

2,797,235

2020

Population

89,200,000

2023

Overview

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

05 May 2020 – Iran

On 1 May, reports emerged detailing Iranian border guards beating, torturing, and forcing a group of Afghan migrants into the Harirud River in an attempt to prevent them from entering the country from Afghanistan’s Herat Province. According to one migrant who witnessed the incident, Iranian guards “warned us that if we do not throw ourselves […]

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Many Afghan migrants in search of work cross the border to Iran from Herat province (BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52523048?CMP=share_btn_me)

07 April 2020 – Iran

According to UNHCR, “There are close to one million refugees in Iran, mostly from Afghanistan and also Iraq. From the onset of the pandemic, the Government of Iran has made every effort to ensure that all refugees have access to the same health services as Iranians, so that they are fully included in the national […]

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Last updated:

DETENTION STATISTICS

Total Migration Detainees: Flow + Stock (year)
Not Available
2019

DETAINEE DATA

Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
0
2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
225,624
2014
204,365
2010
148,843
2007
144,755
2004
158,000
2001
101,801
1993
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
287
2014
276
2010
208
2007
210
2004
239
2001
174
1993

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
89,200,000
2023
84,000,000
2020
International Migrants (Year)
2,797,235
2020
2,682,214
2019
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
3.33
2020
Refugees (Year)
3,425,091
2022
798,343
2021
800,025
2020
979,435
2019
979,435
2016
979,437
2015
982,027
2014
Ratio of Refugees Per 1000 Inhabitants (Year)
12.24
2016
Asylum Applications (Year)
34
2022
85
2016
Stateless Persons (Year)
34
2022
0
2016

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) (in Millions USD)
80.5
2014

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

Does the Country Detain People for Migration, Asylum, or Citizenship Reasons?
Yes
2022
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
Yes
2023

GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

Legal Tradition(s)
Muslim law
2017
Civil law
2017

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Detention-Related Legislation
Art. 13 and 15 of the 1931 Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreign Nationals in Iran (1931)
1931

GROUNDS FOR MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

Immigration-Status-Related Grounds
Detention for unauthorised entry or stay
2023
Criminal Penalties for Immigration-Related Violations
Yes (Yes)
2023
Grounds for Criminal Immigration-Related Incarceration / Maximum Length of Incarceration
Unauthorized entry
2023
Children & Other Vulnerable Groups
Unaccompanied minors Yes
2022
Women Yes
2022
Accompanied minors Yes
2022
Summary Removal/Pushbacks
In Practice: Yes
2022

LENGTH OF MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

Types of Detention Facilities Used in Practice
Immigration detention centre (Administrative)
Informal camp (Ad hoc)
2022

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

Recouping Detention or Removal Costs
Detainee Charged
2022

DETENTION MONITORS

> National human rights monitoring bodies

> National Preventive Mechanisms (Optional Protocol to UN Convetion against Torture)

> Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

> Governmental monitoring bodies

> International detention monitoring

TRANSPARENCY

READMISSION/RETURN/EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS

COVID-19

HEALTH CARE

COVID-19 DATA

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2009
2009
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1994
1994
PCRSR, Protocol to the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1976
1976
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1975
1975
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1975
1975
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1975
1975
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1968
1968
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 7/19
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
0/5
0/5
Relevant Recommendations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Committee on the Rights of the Child §64.The Committee continues to be concerned about the large number of children living and/or working in the streets, particularly in urban centres such as Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, and Shiraz. It regrets that the State party could not present studies on the extent and nature of the problem and is concerned that the centres known as “Khaneh Sabz”, “Khaneh Shoush” and “Khaneh Reyhane” homes, which were established to assist these children, albeit in a limited capacity, have been closed down. It is equally concerned at reports of the round-up and arrest of Afghan children in the streets despite the fact that they were registered with the authorities, and that as a “condition” for their release the authorities request that their parents register for repatriation. The Committee welcomes the policy of the State party to reunite children with their families, whenever possible, and notes the State party’s assurances that these children are assembled in centres for further assistance and not arrested with police methods. §65. The Committee recommends that the State party: ... (d) Ensure that all Afghan children rounded up on the streets are released and are not used to push their parents to repatriate; 2005
2005
Committee on the Rights of the Child § 82. "The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Systematically collect disaggregated data on its refugee and asylum-seeking children in order to be able to develop programmes and policies that respond to their needs; (b) Ensure prompt registration of all its asylum-seeking and refugee children in order to provide them with access to all basic services, including health care and education for free; (c) Ensure that unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children are given guardianship, free legal assistance with immigration proceedings, and access to adequate shelter, food, health care and education; (d) Ensure that immigration proceedings involving children are decided on the basis of the best interests of the child, and prevent separation of families during the deportation process." 2016
2016

NON-TREATY-BASED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Relevant Recommendations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2010
No 2014
Yes 2019

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

DETENTION COSTS

OUTSOURCING

FOREIGN SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DETENTION OPERATIONS