A foreign ministry official criticized some western countries for adopting the policy of compulsory deportation of asylum seekers, stressing the move is in violation of human rights.
"Iran regards compulsory deportation as being against human rights. In our view, nothing is wrong with the voluntary return of any Iranian to their country, and the embassies are obliged to pave the way for their return," deputy foreign minister for consular, parliamentary and expatriates affairs Hassan Qashqavi said in reference to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's visit to Iran, which was mainly aimed at convincing Tehran to take back the Iranian asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected.
"If compulsory deportation was not at issue, we had no problem because it is every Iranian's right to come back to their homeland," ISNA quoted Qashqavi as saying on Sunday.
He said Australian officials have always held talks with Iranian officials regarding asylum seekers and their strictness in this regard is not separate from their policy to accept immigrants, explaining that all the countries that accept immigrants first screen the applicants and admit the people who are deemed to be useful to their societies.
"The group (of the applicants) that they (the countries that accept immigrants) are not willing to admit is referred to the consular sections of embassies for compulsory deportation."
Elsewhere, the senior diplomat said the issue of asylum seekers is related to Iranophobia, noting, "As part of the policy, false motivators to encourage traveling to these countries are presented."
