Latest news with #forcedmigration
Associated Press
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
New Novel, ‘From the Dictators' Shadows: A Family's Journey,' Offers an Immigrant's Story of Civil War, Resistance and Reinvention
Debut novel by Maritza Durán launches from Pegasus Publishers What does it mean to lose a homeland—and to rebuild a life in its absence? Author Maritza Durán explores this in her debut novel " From the Dictators' Shadows: A Family's Journey.' A powerful story based on real events, Durán blends memoir and historical fiction, inviting readers into the world of a family caught between patriotism and persecution—celebrated as heroes of a young republic one day, labeled enemies of the state the next. Through their story, Durán explores the emotional and generational impact of political violence, forced migration, and survival—with deep resonance for today's global crises. 'This novel is more than a family saga. It's a mirror held up to our current moment— a nation slides into authoritarianism, human rights erode, brothers and fathers disappear, and stories like these risk being silenced,' Durán says. 'This is not just a story of the past, it is an ongoing story of families like mine, seeking safety, freedom and dignity.' A Family Fractured by Dictatorship The Burgos Beltrán family's story begins in the late 1800s, as the island nation of Puerto Rey claims its independence. Born into the hopeful beginnings of a new republic, six spirited siblings come of age in a moment of promise and political possibility. But when a violent dictatorship takes hold, the family is torn apart. The brothers stay behind to resist one of the most brutal regimes in Latin American history. The sisters flee to North America, where they face exile, grief, and reinvention as immigrants in New York City. Durán lays bare the emotional toll of families forced to flee under threat of state-sanctioned violence—while honoring the strength it takes to begin again. From the Dictators' Shadows is an immigrant story of resilience, bravery and hope. A Multigenerational Tale Told by Women Told through the voices of three women reflecting on their family's legacy, the novel spans revolution, failed coups, devastating parental loss, political assassination, mental illness, and migration. Yet amid the hardship, it illuminates the quiet triumph of rebuilding lives across oceans. In the U.S., the Burgos Beltrán sisters become more than survivors—they become role models. As entrepreneurs, mothers, and mentors, their story is a testament to the overlooked strength and contribution of immigrant women in America. Why This Story Matters Now 'From the Dictators' Shadows' is a story told in fiction and stitched together with historical truths. It represents the experience of Durán's family and many families throughout Latin America who continue to live through violent political turmoil. Around the world—and here in the U.S.—thousands of immigrants, many fleeing regimes like the one that shadows this story, continue to face detention, discrimination, and danger in the very places they hoped would protect them. This novel gives voice to those who have been assassinated, silenced, or displaced by corrupt governments—and all those who stay behind to resist. It reminds us that migration is not just a policy issue—it is a deeply human story of love, loss, courage, and dignity. 'From the Dictators' Shadows' is available to order now on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. For more information about Maritza Durán and her debut novel, visit About Maritza Durán Maritza Durán is a writer and researcher whose work explores the impacts of global migration. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised in New York City, shaped by stories of Caribbean exile and North American reinvention. In her debut novel, 'From the Dictators' Shadows: A Family's Journey,' Durán blends personal history, archival research, and imagination to illuminate the legacy of political violence—and the resilience of families forced to start over. She writes to give voice to those silenced by dictatorship, to honor the women who raised her, and the men who stayed behind to resist. For more information, visit Media Contact Ellen Rose [email protected] ### SOURCE: Maritza Durán Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran expels half a million Afghans in 16-day stretch since recent conflict with Israel, UN says
More than half a million Afghans have been expelled from Iran in the 16 days since the conflict with Israel ended, according to the United Nations, in what may be one of the largest forced movements of population this decade. For months, Tehran has declared its intention to remove the millions of undocumented Afghans who carry out lower-paid labor across Iran, often in tough conditions. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said 508,426 Afghans have left Iran via the Iranian-Afghanistan border between June 24 and July 9. A startling 33,956 crossed Wednesday and 30,635 on Tuesday, after a peak of 51,000 on Friday, ahead of a Sunday deadline from Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave. The deportations – part of a program Iran announced in March – have radically increased in pace since the 12-day conflict with Israel, fueled by unsubstantiated claims that Afghans had spied for Israel prior to and during the attacks. Scant evidence has emerged to support claims of Afghan migrants assisting Israel has emerged, leading critics to suggest Iran is simply fulfilling a long-held ambition to reduce its illegal Afghan population and focusing internal dissent on a vulnerable minority. Conditions for returnees are stark, with temperatures as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 degrees celsius, with reception centers on the Afghanistan border struggling. Mihyung Park, chief of mission for the UN's international organization for migration, told CNN on Tuesday, 'There are thousands of people under the sun - and you know how hot Herat can be. It is quite dire. Last week was quite massive.' Park said half of the year's returnees had arrived since June 1, with 250,000 in one July week. 'Last week it was about 400 unaccompanied, separated children – that is a lot,' she added. Footage from the Islam Qala border crossing shows hundreds of migrants awaiting processing and transport, often in the punishing summer Afghan heat. Many have lived for years in Iran, often in semi-permanent conditions despite lacking documentation, and found their lives uprooted in minutes in the recent crackdown. Bashir, in his twenties, said in an interview in Islam Qala, a border town in western Afghanistan, that he was detained by police in Tehran and whisked to a detention center. 'First, they took 10 million tomans (about $200) from me. Then they sent me to the detention center where I was kept for two nights and they forced me to pay another 2 million ($50). In the detention center they wouldn't give us food or drinking water. There were around 200 people there, and they would beat us up, they would abuse us,' he said. Parisa, 11, was standing with her parents as she described being told she could not attend her school again this year, heralding her family's deportation. Schooling for girls in Afghanistan is restricted under the Taliban. 'We spent six years in Iran before they told us to apply for the exit letter and leave Iran,' she said. 'We did have a legal census document, but they told us to leave Iran immediately.' The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying has attracted international condemnation. The UN's special rapporteur to Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, posted on X at the weekend: 'Hundreds of Afghans & members of ethnic & religious minorities detained #Iran accused of 'espionage.' Also reports of incitement to discrimination & violence in the media labelling Afghans & minority communities as traitors & using dehumanising language.' 'We've always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally illegal nationals must return,' Iran's government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on July 1, according to Reuters. State media has also aired footage of an alleged Afghan 'spy' for Israel confessing to working for another Afghan who was based in Germany. 'That person contacted me and said he needed information on certain locations,' the alleged spy claims. 'He asked for some locations, and I provided them. I also received $2,000 from him.' The report did not identify the alleged spy or provide evidence to support the claim. State media has also released footage of Tehran police rounding up migrants, who the correspondent identified as mostly Afghans, with its officers in pursuit of suspects across open fields. Potential deportees are moved onto buses and forcibly marched off the vehicles to an unknown destination. The state television correspondent in the footage asks one Tehran employer of the alleged illegal migrant: 'Why did you hire the Afghan? It's against the law.' The alleged employer replies, 'I know! But I have to pay them so they can go back. They want to go and (are) waiting to get paid.'
CNN
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Iran expels half a million Afghans since recent conflict with Israel, UN says
More than half a million Afghans have been expelled from Iran in the 16 days since the conflict with Israel ended, according to the United Nations, in what may be one of the largest forced movements of population this decade. For months, Tehran has declared its intention to remove the millions of undocumented Afghans who carry out lower-paid labor across Iran, often in tough conditions. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said 508,426 Afghans have left Iran via the Iranian-Afghanistan border between June 24 and July 9. A startling 33,956 crossed Wednesday and 30,635 on Tuesday, after a peak of 51,000 on Friday, ahead of a Sunday deadline from Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave. The deportations – part of a program Iran announced in March – have radically increased in pace since the 12-day conflict with Israel, fueled by unsubstantiated claims that Afghans had spied for Israel prior to and during the attacks. Scant evidence has emerged to support claims of Afghan migrants assisting Israel has emerged, leading critics to suggest Iran is simply fulfilling a long-held ambition to reduce its illegal Afghan population and focusing internal dissent on a vulnerable minority. Conditions for returnees are stark, with temperatures as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 degrees celsius, with reception centers on the Afghanistan border struggling. Mihyung Park, chief of mission for the UN's international organization for migration, told CNN on Tuesday, 'There are thousands of people under the sun - and you know how hot Herat can be. It is quite dire. Last week was quite massive.' Park said half of the year's returnees had arrived since June 1, with 250,000 in one July week. 'Last week it was about 400 unaccompanied, separated children – that is a lot,' she added. Footage from the Islam Qala border crossing shows hundreds of migrants awaiting processing and transport, often in the punishing summer Afghan heat. Many have lived for years in Iran, often in semi-permanent conditions despite lacking documentation, and found their lives uprooted in minutes in the recent crackdown. Bashir, in his twenties, said in an interview in Islam Qala, a border town in western Afghanistan, that he was detained by police in Tehran and whisked to a detention center. 'First, they took 10 million tomans (about $200) from me. Then they sent me to the detention center where I was kept for two nights and they forced me to pay another 2 million ($50). In the detention center they wouldn't give us food or drinking water. There were around 200 people there, and they would beat us up, they would abuse us,' he said. Parisa, 11, was standing with her parents as she described being told she could not attend her school again this year, heralding her family's deportation. Schooling for girls in Afghanistan is restricted under the Taliban. 'We spent six years in Iran before they told us to apply for the exit letter and leave Iran,' she said. 'We did have a legal census document, but they told us to leave Iran immediately.' The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying has attracted international condemnation. The UN's special rapporteur to Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, posted on X at the weekend: 'Hundreds of Afghans & members of ethnic & religious minorities detained #Iran accused of 'espionage.' Also reports of incitement to discrimination & violence in the media labelling Afghans & minority communities as traitors & using dehumanising language.' 'We've always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally illegal nationals must return,' Iran's government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on July 1, according to Reuters. State media has also aired footage of an alleged Afghan 'spy' for Israel confessing to working for another Afghan who was based in Germany. 'That person contacted me and said he needed information on certain locations,' the alleged spy claims. 'He asked for some locations, and I provided them. I also received $2,000 from him.' The report did not identify the alleged spy or provide evidence to support the claim. State media has also released footage of Tehran police rounding up migrants, who the correspondent identified as mostly Afghans, with its officers in pursuit of suspects across open fields. Potential deportees are moved onto buses and forcibly marched off the vehicles to an unknown destination. The state television correspondent in the footage asks one Tehran employer of the alleged illegal migrant: 'Why did you hire the Afghan? It's against the law.' The alleged employer replies, 'I know! But I have to pay them so they can go back. They want to go and (are) waiting to get paid.'
CNN
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Iran expels half a million Afghans since recent conflict with Israel, UN says
More than half a million Afghans have been expelled from Iran in the 16 days since the conflict with Israel ended, according to the United Nations, in what may be one of the largest forced movements of population this decade. For months, Tehran has declared its intention to remove the millions of undocumented Afghans who carry out lower-paid labor across Iran, often in tough conditions. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said 508,426 Afghans have left Iran via the Iranian-Afghanistan border between June 24 and July 9. A startling 33,956 crossed Wednesday and 30,635 on Tuesday, after a peak of 51,000 on Friday, ahead of a Sunday deadline from Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave. The deportations – part of a program Iran announced in March – have radically increased in pace since the 12-day conflict with Israel, fueled by unsubstantiated claims that Afghans had spied for Israel prior to and during the attacks. Scant evidence has emerged to support claims of Afghan migrants assisting Israel has emerged, leading critics to suggest Iran is simply fulfilling a long-held ambition to reduce its illegal Afghan population and focusing internal dissent on a vulnerable minority. Conditions for returnees are stark, with temperatures as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 degrees celsius, with reception centers on the Afghanistan border struggling. Mihyung Park, chief of mission for the UN's international organization for migration, told CNN on Tuesday, 'There are thousands of people under the sun - and you know how hot Herat can be. It is quite dire. Last week was quite massive.' Park said half of the year's returnees had arrived since June 1, with 250,000 in one July week. 'Last week it was about 400 unaccompanied, separated children – that is a lot,' she added. Footage from the Islam Qala border crossing shows hundreds of migrants awaiting processing and transport, often in the punishing summer Afghan heat. Many have lived for years in Iran, often in semi-permanent conditions despite lacking documentation, and found their lives uprooted in minutes in the recent crackdown. Bashir, in his twenties, said in an interview in Islam Qala, a border town in western Afghanistan, that he was detained by police in Tehran and whisked to a detention center. 'First, they took 10 million tomans (about $200) from me. Then they sent me to the detention center where I was kept for two nights and they forced me to pay another 2 million ($50). In the detention center they wouldn't give us food or drinking water. There were around 200 people there, and they would beat us up, they would abuse us,' he said. Parisa, 11, was standing with her parents as she described being told she could not attend her school again this year, heralding her family's deportation. Schooling for girls in Afghanistan is restricted under the Taliban. 'We spent six years in Iran before they told us to apply for the exit letter and leave Iran,' she said. 'We did have a legal census document, but they told us to leave Iran immediately.' The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying has attracted international condemnation. The UN's special rapporteur to Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, posted on X at the weekend: 'Hundreds of Afghans & members of ethnic & religious minorities detained #Iran accused of 'espionage.' Also reports of incitement to discrimination & violence in the media labelling Afghans & minority communities as traitors & using dehumanising language.' 'We've always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally illegal nationals must return,' Iran's government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on July 1, according to Reuters. State media has also aired footage of an alleged Afghan 'spy' for Israel confessing to working for another Afghan who was based in Germany. 'That person contacted me and said he needed information on certain locations,' the alleged spy claims. 'He asked for some locations, and I provided them. I also received $2,000 from him.' The report did not identify the alleged spy or provide evidence to support the claim. State media has also released footage of Tehran police rounding up migrants, who the correspondent identified as mostly Afghans, with its officers in pursuit of suspects across open fields. Potential deportees are moved onto buses and forcibly marched off the vehicles to an unknown destination. The state television correspondent in the footage asks one Tehran employer of the alleged illegal migrant: 'Why did you hire the Afghan? It's against the law.' The alleged employer replies, 'I know! But I have to pay them so they can go back. They want to go and (are) waiting to get paid.'
