Human trafficking networks are targeting Afghan migrants in Iran with false promises of safe passage to Europe. Once there, many are forced into hard labour or sexual exploitation to repay smuggling debts.

Rights monitors say Afghan migrants are especially vulnerable in countries such as Germany, Hungary, North Macedonia, and Serbia, where traffickers subject them to severe abuse and coercion.

Disturbingly, some Afghan traffickers are also involved. Reports reveal cases where teenage boys have been forced into“bacha bazi,” a practice amounting to sexual slavery and a grave violation of human rights.

Observers note that these networks exploit gaps in international protection and take advantage of the fragile status of Afghan migrants. Many victims remain undocumented, leaving them with little access to legal support or recourse.

Human rights groups have called for urgent cross-border cooperation, stronger protection measures, and humanitarian assistance to prevent refugees from being trapped in cycles of exploitation.

The situation underscores how Afghanistan's prolonged displacement crisis has created fertile ground for trafficking networks, pushing vulnerable migrants deeper into Europe's shadow economy.

The exploitation of Afghan migrants by human trafficking networks reflects a grave humanitarian crisis, demanding urgent international action to dismantle criminal systems and safeguard vulnerable communities.

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