Iran

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Yes

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

Refugees

3,443,522

2023

Asylum Applications

7

2023

International Migrants

2,797,235

2020

Population

89,200,000

2023

Overview

Iran hosts around 3.4 million refugees, primarily from Afghanistan, making it one of the top refugee-hosting countries globally. However, the Iranian government has taken a hardline stance towards refugees and migrants, expelling more than a million people in some years. There are reports of Iranian border guards using excessive force against Afghans attempting to enter, including beatings, torture, and forcing them into rivers.

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

Iran: Covid-19 and detention

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)

Iran: Covid-19 and Detention

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

Migration Detainee Entries
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)
3,443,522
2023
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)
7
2023
34
2022
85
2016
Stateless Persons (Year)
7
2023
34
2022
0
2016

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

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

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

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
Detention-Related Legislation
Art. 13 and 15 of the 1931 Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreign Nationals in Iran (1931)
1931
Summary Removal/Pushbacks
In Practice: Yes
2022
Legal Tradition(s)
Civil law
2017
Muslim law
2017

GROUNDS FOR 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
Accompanied minors Yes
2022
Women Yes
2022
Unaccompanied minors Yes
2022

LENGTH OF DETENTION

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

COSTS & OUTSOURCING

COVID-19 DATA

TRANSPARENCY

MONITORING

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING BODIES

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE)

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs)

GOVERNMENTAL MONITORING BODIES

INTERNATIONAL DETENTION MONITORING

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES & TREATY BODIES

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
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1975
1975
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1975
1975
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political 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 or Observations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Human Rights Committee 44. The State party should: (a) Facilitate access to fair asylum procedures for all persons in need of international protection and strictly uphold the principle of non-refoulement, including for those from Afghanistan; (b) Ensure that the detention of migrants and asylum-seekers is reasonable, necessary and proportionate, in accordance with the Committee’s general comment No. 35 (2014); that alternatives to detention are used; and that children are not detained for immigration-related purposes. 2023
2023
2023
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
2016
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
2005

> UN Special Procedures

> UN Universal Periodic Review

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

> Global Compact for Migration (GCM)

GCM Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018
2018

> Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)

GCR Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

HEALTH CARE PROVISION

HEALTH IMPACTS

COVID-19

Country Updates
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 into the water, we will be shot.” As of 3 May, at least seven Afghans are believed to have drowned, and more than 30 remain missing. Doctors at Herat District Hospital stated that they had received several bodies - four of whom reportedly displayed clear signs of death by drowning. In a statement released the following day, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry announced that an inquiry had been launched, however the Iranian consulate in Herat denied all allegations. It is estimated that between 1.5 and 3 million Afghans live and work in Iran - many as wage labourers on construction projects. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, which hit Iran particularly acutely, large numbers returned to Afghanistan. With Iran starting to ease its restrictions, some have sought to return in search of employment.
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 COVID-19 response.” However, as of this update, the Global Detention Project has found no reports indicating that the government is taking specific measures to assist people who may be in prisons or detention centres for immigration or asylum-related reasons. In mid-March, the government ordered the release of 85,000 prisoners detained in criminal prisons in efforts to combat the spread of Coronavirus. On 20 March, prisoners attempted to escape the Parsilon Prison of Khorramabad in western Iran in a coordinated plan with people involved inside and outside the facility. Reports indicate that individuals attacked the prison from the outside and killed two or three prison guards. Guards and security forces subsequently opened fire on about 250 fleeing prisoners, which left many of them dead. Following the riot, martial law was declared in Khorramabad and raids are being conducted to apprehend the fleeing prisoners.
Did the country release immigration detainees as a result of the pandemic?
Unknown
2021
Did the country use legal "alternatives to detention" as part of pandemic detention releases?
Unknown
2021
Did the country Temporarily Cease or Restrict Issuing Detention Orders?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Adopt These Pandemic-Related Measures for People in Immigration Detention?
Unknown (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
2021
Did the Country Lock-Down Previously "Open" Reception Facilities, Shelters, Refugee Camps, or Other Forms of Accommodation for Migrant Workers or Other Non-Citizens?
Yes but have reopened
2021
Were cases of COVID-19 reported in immigration detention facilities or any other places used for immigration detention purposes?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Cease or Restrict Deportations/Removals During any Period After the Onset of the Pandemic?
No
2021
Did the Country Release People from Criminal Prisons During the Pandemic?
Yes
2020
Did Officials Blame Migrants, Asylum Seekers, or Refugees for the Spread of COVID-19?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Restrict Access to Asylum Procedures?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Commence a National Vaccination Campaign?
Yes
2021
Were Populations of Concern Included/Excluded From the National Vaccination Campaign?
Unknown (Excluded) Excluded Excluded Unknown
2021