Afghan refugees sent by Iran to fight in Syria reluctant to speak out

Iran's deployment of Afghan refugees to Syria, in order to fight in combat, is something that has been covered by the global media, but the voices of the refugees have largely stayed silent due to fear of the oppressive militant organization, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC).

Furthermore, with Iran supporting the Assad regime in Syria, which is attempting to drive out the extremist organization Islamic State (IS), there hasn't been much criticism from other countries about this practice. As the situation continues, it is difficult to see a way out for these exploited Afghan refugees.

"Please aim the camera lower," requests an Afghan refugee, as he prepares for an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun. The man, who is in his 30s, is worried about the fact that the camera is pointing toward his mouth. Frightened that his testimony might become known among those around him, he agrees to take part in the interview on the condition that he will be filmed from the neck downward.

He holds an identification card issued by an immigration office in Iran, showing that his refugee status has been certified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Mainichi Shimbun has been waiting for more than two years for this moment, and now finally, someone is willing to testify.

The Mainichi Shimbun learned of the deployment of Afghan refugees to Syria in January 2015. A young man wearing the military uniform of the Assad regime was seen in an online video saying, "The area behind those mountains is ruled by our enemy."

Judging from his choice of words and facial features, the man was thought to be from Afghanistan -- prompting the newspaper to cover the situation.

The Mainichi Shimbun had been searching for a reliable person to talk to about the deployment, but was unable to gain the necessary permission. A source explained that, "(The person I know) is afraid of revenge by the IRGC and doesn't want to cooperate. I am scared as well."

According to the international human rights group Amnesty International, there were 977 cases of death row inmates being executed in Iran in 2015. It has been pointed out that in some cases, the death sentence would be issued immediately in a closed court, and that there are "brutal punishments such as limbs being cut off." The risks that refugee fighters face for testifying -- given that the Iranian government doesn't officially recognize the deployment of refugees -- are extremely severe.

Iran's official stance is that, "We have been sending the IRGC and soldiers from our government forces to Syria, but only to give advice to Syrian forces in response to requests from the Assad regime." The Iranian government does not recognize its direct involvement in the conflict in Syria.

The fighting in Syria has religious connections. It is essentially a struggle for supremacy between Iran, which is a Shiite Islamic country, and Saudi Arabia, a Sunni Islamic nation. For Iran, Syria is essentially a strategic location to extend its influence. By gaining authority in Syria, Iran can bolster its position against its enemy Israel, which Tehran does not recognize as a sovereign state, and establish the "Shiite belt" across the region, which straddles Iraq and South Lebanon, where the Hezbollah militant group is located.

However, in Syria, a Sunni anti-government organization backed by Saudi Arabia is fighting against the Assad regime supported by Alawites. Therefore, Saudi Arabia has criticized Iran for its involvement in the fighting in Syria.

Professor Koichiro Tanaka of Keio University, who is an expert on the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan, says the reason why Iran denies the deployment of Afghan refugees to Syria is as follows. "If Iran admitted its direct involvement in the fighting in Syria, it would support Saudi Arabia's argument that Iran is 'waging a religious war."

Tanaka adds if the activities of an IRGC unit that is allegedly comprised of refugees and other non-Iranian Shiite Muslims were to be revealed, Iran could come under fire for violating the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

"Iran's practices as a state could be called into question in the international community," he said.