Former Afghan Air Force Pilot Self-Immolates After Receiving “Exit Notice” in Mashhad

Mohammad Mohaqiq, the leader of the Islamic People’s Unity Party of Afghanistan, has reported that a former pilot of the Afghan Air Force, Mohammad Amir Tawasolli, set himself on fire and died after receiving an “exit notice” from Iran in the city of Mashhad.

Mr. Mohaqiq, in a Facebook post today (Friday, May 23), expressed condolences over the incident and called on Iranian authorities to treat Afghan migrants, especially former military personnel and officials of the Afghan government, with “Islamic mercy and compassion” to prevent such tragedies from recurring.

Several social media users stated that Mohammad Amir Tawasolli was 40 years old and a native of Lal wa Sarjangal district in Ghor province, Afghanistan. He had migrated to Iran following the change of government in Afghanistan.

This comes as Mohammad Mohaqiq recently traveled to Iran as the head of a delegation from the “Supreme National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan” to discuss the situation of Afghan migrants. After the trip, he announced that Iranian officials had pledged to refrain from deporting vulnerable migrants, including former Afghan military personnel and officials.

However, Iran has continued its program of deporting Afghan nationals, issuing “exit cards” to thousands of migrants holding census papers. According to these documents, migrants are required to leave Iran within a specified period; otherwise, they will face detention, fines, or forced deportation.