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Afghans condemn Iran police after refugees die in car fire | Afghans condemn Iran police after refugees die in car fire |
(32 minutes later) | |
The deaths of three Afghan refugees in a car fire in Iran has prompted an outpouring of anger towards police there, after it emerged the blaze began when officers shot at the vehicle. | The deaths of three Afghan refugees in a car fire in Iran has prompted an outpouring of anger towards police there, after it emerged the blaze began when officers shot at the vehicle. |
Another four were injured, including a boy seen begging "Give me some water, I am burning" in video of the incident. | Another four were injured, including a boy seen begging "Give me some water, I am burning" in video of the incident. |
His plea is now a hashtag, used by Afghans to express their anger online. | His plea is now a hashtag, used by Afghans to express their anger online. |
It comes a month after Iranian border guards allegedly tortured and killed a group of Afghan migrants. | It comes a month after Iranian border guards allegedly tortured and killed a group of Afghan migrants. |
Afghan officials said 45 migrant workers were killed when the border guards forced them at gunpoint into a river. Iran denied the allegations. | Afghan officials said 45 migrant workers were killed when the border guards forced them at gunpoint into a river. Iran denied the allegations. |
What happened to the car? | What happened to the car? |
The deputy governor of the central Iranian province of Yazd, Ahmad Tarahomi, told local media that police officers suspected the car was carrying drugs and undocumented migrants. | The deputy governor of the central Iranian province of Yazd, Ahmad Tarahomi, told local media that police officers suspected the car was carrying drugs and undocumented migrants. |
When the car failed to stop at a checkpoint, they opened fire, he said. After its tyres were hit, the car continued to drive on its wheel rims, causing sparks that started the fire, Mr Tarahomi added. | When the car failed to stop at a checkpoint, they opened fire, he said. After its tyres were hit, the car continued to drive on its wheel rims, causing sparks that started the fire, Mr Tarahomi added. |
A graphic video circulating online shows a partially-burnt boy with tattered clothes on the side of a road begging for water. | A graphic video circulating online shows a partially-burnt boy with tattered clothes on the side of a road begging for water. |
The Afghan ministry of foreign affairs has confirmed the video is genuine. | The Afghan ministry of foreign affairs has confirmed the video is genuine. |
What has the reaction been? | What has the reaction been? |
An Afghan delegation was being sent to Iran to support the victims and investigate the incident, Abdul Ghafoor Liwal, Afghanistan's ambassador to Tehran, told the BBC on Friday. | An Afghan delegation was being sent to Iran to support the victims and investigate the incident, Abdul Ghafoor Liwal, Afghanistan's ambassador to Tehran, told the BBC on Friday. |
There was a wave of outrage online after the video went viral on social media, adding to long-standing anger about alleged mistreatment of Afghans in Iran. | There was a wave of outrage online after the video went viral on social media, adding to long-standing anger about alleged mistreatment of Afghans in Iran. |
About three million Afghans - including refugees and migrants - live in Iran. | About three million Afghans - including refugees and migrants - live in Iran. |
"Iran has no right to kill Afghan refugees, they can seal their borders, expel all Afghans but not kill them," Ali Noori, a lawyer and rights activist, said on Facebook, according to Reuters news agency. | "Iran has no right to kill Afghan refugees, they can seal their borders, expel all Afghans but not kill them," Ali Noori, a lawyer and rights activist, said on Facebook, according to Reuters news agency. |
Some Afghans made comparisons with police brutality in the US, which has triggered protests in recent days. | |
"A boy screams for a drop of water but no one gives him. He is burnt. Where is humanity? #shameful," tweeted Javid Ahmad Qaem, Afghanistan's ambassador to China. | "A boy screams for a drop of water but no one gives him. He is burnt. Where is humanity? #shameful," tweeted Javid Ahmad Qaem, Afghanistan's ambassador to China. |
"Afghans are burnt to death and thrown into water by the Iranian regime. There are tens of Afghan #GeorgeFloyd every week in Iran. Human rights violations by the Iranian regime are extremely alarming," tweeted Hamid Hatsaandh, who describes himself as an activist. | "Afghans are burnt to death and thrown into water by the Iranian regime. There are tens of Afghan #GeorgeFloyd every week in Iran. Human rights violations by the Iranian regime are extremely alarming," tweeted Hamid Hatsaandh, who describes himself as an activist. |
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