Afghans fleeing the Taliban are being kidnapped and tortured by gangs as they try to cross the border between Iran and Turkey on their way to Europe, a BBC investigation has found. The gangs then send videos of the abuse to the families of migrants being held hostage, demanding a ransom for their release.
Shackled together on a mountain-top with padlocks around their necks, a group of Afghan migrants beg for their release.
“Whoever watches this video, I was kidnapped yesterday, they are demanding $4,000 (£3,200) for each one of us. They beat us day and night non-stop,” says one man, with a bloodied lip, his face caked in dust.
Another video shows a group of men fully naked, crawling in the snow as someone whips them from behind.
“I have family, don’t do this to me; I have a wife and children, have mercy, please,” one man cries in another, shortly before he is filmed being sexually abused at knifepoint by one of the gangs.
These disturbing videos are evidence of a growing criminal enterprise, in which gangs in Iran kidnap mainly Afghan migrants trying to make their way to Europe.
The migration route from Afghanistan to Iran, then across the border into Turkey and onto the rest of Europe, has been used for decades. In fact, I took part of the same journey myself 12 years ago when fleeing Iran for the UK, where I was granted asylum.
But the route is now more dangerous than ever.
Those trying to cross from Iran into Turkey walk for hours over dry, mountainous terrain with no trees to provide shade, making it harder to avoid security forces who patrol the area.
Source: bbc.com
