More than 500 Afghan prisoners serving prison terms in Iran have been transferred to Afghanistan after their identities were verified, Afghan officials said, as Kabul and Tehran continue a prisoner transfer process.
Hundreds of Afghan prisoners who had spent years in Iranian prisons are now being brought back in the 11th round of the Prisoner Transfer Committee between Kabul and Tehran.
Afghanistan’s embassy in Tehran said 408 prisoners were transferred in the first phase, following identity checks and an official ceremony.
The embassy said the transfer followed efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Afghan embassy in Tehran.
In a statement,it said: “Pursuant to the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as a result of the efforts of the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Tehran 408 Afghan prisoners sentenced to imprisonment were transferred from Iran to Afghanistan in the first phase of the eleventh round of the Prisoner Transfer Committee, following identity verification, during an official ceremony.”
In a second statement, the embassy said another group was transferred after legal procedures were completed, “In the second phase of the 11th round of the Prisoner Transfer Committee, 165 Afghan prisoners sentenced to imprisonment were transferred from Iran to Afghanistan after their identities were verified and legal procedures were completed.”
It also said one Iranian female prisoner was transferred from Afghanistan to Iran as part of the same process.
The embassy said nine Afghan prisoners had their death sentences changed to long-term imprisonment: “Among the transferred Afghan prisoners were eight men and one woman who had previously been sentenced to death by Iranian courts.”
Mohammad Nasim Lalahand, spokesperson for the General Directorate of Prison Affairs, said the prisoners were transferred through the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat with their consent.
He said they would complete their sentences in Afghanistan, “They were handed over to the relevant authority and will serve the remainder of their prison terms in prisons under its administration.”
He also said 62 prisoners from the first group were moved to Nimroz and 58 to Farah provinces, so their families could visit them.
Officials said the transfer process will continue in the coming days.
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