Amrullah Saleh, one of the failed figures of the republic, is once again trying to make a name for himself in the political arena by exploiting the unbearable conditions of Afghan refugees. These kinds of individuals are power-hungry and use any means—exploiting the pain and suffering of the people—to achieve their goals, even if this exploitation comes at the cost of opposing national interests and betraying the people.
In this context, following the intensification of the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran — where tens of thousands are returned daily with humiliation and disrespect — Amrullah Saleh, instead of sympathizing with these oppressed individuals, has criticized Iran’s detractors and asked them to refrain from “complaining” and reminding of cultural and religious commonalities, neither tiring themselves nor bothering Iran.
In a situation where Afghan refugees are enduring the bitterest days of their lives, refraining from defending their dignity and honor is not only a sign of disregard for the nation but also a stamp of approval for the humiliating behavior against them.
Amrullah Saleh, on one hand, talks about democracy, and on the other hand, he endorses insults and the violation of human dignity. This is the same great contradiction that exists between the claims of defeated politicians and their actual performance.
In a part of his statements, Saleh attributes the wave of migrations to the Doha Agreement, an agreement signed between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and American representatives in Qatar. But if we want to look at the real reasons for the migrations without bias, it is clear that their roots go back to the civil wars; the same wars that fleeing figures and faction leaders initiated to gain power and turned the country into a battleground of bloody competitions.
Documents and evidence also testify that the majority of Afghan migrants sought refuge in neighboring countries during the internal wars, not after the signing of the Doha Agreement. Therefore, the main cause of migration should be sought in the factional conflicts, political betrayals, and the selling of the country’s fate to foreigners at the Bonn Conference in 2001.
In another part of his statements, Amrullah Saleh considers the forced return of refugees as “an opportunity for recruitment” and writes: “After every darkness, there is light.” This wave of return is enough to fill the roads, mountains, and valleys. Those who return shape a new reality. They are not shadows; they have roots. This return is vital for mobilizing the forces of freedom.
It is a great source of sorrow and regret for Saleh’s supporters that in a time of crisis, instead of standing with the suffering people and speaking of empathy, Saleh is seeking to exploit the difficult and painful situation of the migrants and wants to use their forced circumstances to further his baseless and empty political goals.
The reality is that many of these returnees do not even have a roof over their heads, let alone being ready to become soldiers for the political goals of others. They are now more than anything focused on survival and rebuilding their shattered lives.
Instead of standing with these suffering people, Saleh tries to use them as tools with empty slogans. But these people, as Saleh says, are neither shadows nor tools; they are the living realities of society — those from whom you once took the right to live in their own country and who have now returned to reclaim their rights.
They have not come to be sacrificed for your sinister goals or to sacrifice their lives for the future of your children. They have come to prevent history from repeating itself; to ensure that the fate of their homeland does not fall once again into the hands of traders like you, and that their land does not become a playground for traitors and political thieves.
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