A former Afghan military pilot, Mohammad Amir Tawasoli, died by suicide through self-immolation in Iran after allegedly receiving an exit notice from Iranian authorities—fearing forced return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and certain persecution.
According to media reports, Tawasoli had sought to renew his residency status at the Kefalat office in Mashhad but was instead handed an exit order, dashing his hopes of safety and sanctuary. Just hours later, he set himself ablaze inside a residential building in the Golshahr neighborhood.
Hamidreza Kafinia, head of the Mashhad fire department, confirmed the death of a 40-year-old man from severe burns but withheld the identity. Sources later revealed it was Tawasoli—an air force officer who had once defended Afghanistan under the previous government.
The shock and outrage following his death have drawn sharp criticism from Afghan diaspora leaders. Mohammad Mohaqiq, a prominent member of the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, expressed deep sorrow and condemned the incident. He noted that Iranian officials had previously promised not to deport vulnerable Afghan refugees, including ex-military personnel, during recent high-level talks in Tehran.
“This tragedy is a stain on our collective conscience,” Mohaqiq said. “I urge Iranian authorities to show Islamic compassion and humanity before we lose more lives to despair.”
Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Iran has become a reluctant refuge for thousands of Afghan officials, soldiers, and professionals fearing retaliation. But recent months have seen a disturbing trend: deportation threats, legal uncertainty, and bureaucratic barriers that make survival nearly impossible.
While Iranian law allows temporary six-month visa extensions for high-risk Afghan migrants—pending verification by international bodies—human rights advocates say the process is inconsistent, slow, and deeply flawed.
Tawasoli’s story is not unique, but his final, fiery protest now serves as a symbol of the desperation engulfing Afghan refugees caught between hostile regimes and international neglect.
