Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants in Isfahan

Police mounted an operation to tackle the problem of illegal immigration in mid-June, targeting the Isfahan suburb of Arghavanie. Officers raided premises rumored to house illegal economic migrants, checking travel documents and identification. The issue of illegal immigration continues to be a contentious topic of discussion across Iran, with many politicians using it to boost their own agendas and turn attention away from controversial policies or ongoing social unease. Some of the migrants are from Afghanistan, who face discrimination and are often incorrectly blamed for Iran’s economic troubles. Others have travelled from Pakistan and other countries in the region.

Fars newsagency