Swedish-Deported Sisters Face Dire Conditions Amid Iran Bombings, Sparking Calls for Repatriation

Darya and Donya, two Iranian sisters deported from Sweden last October, are currently caught in life-threatening conditions amid bombings in Iran, according to an update from Swedish news sources. The sisters, aged 20 and 24, were sent to Iran after their parents obtained work permits in Sweden but now struggle with war's realities, including lacking heat and water.

Leo Ahmed, chairman of the Left Party in Märsta-Sigtuna, has been in contact with the sisters during the bombings. He described the situation as terrifying, noting they advised the sisters to take safety measures by listening to loud music and avoiding windows. Ahmed's efforts to secure help from the Swedish Foreign Ministry have been met with the refusal that the sisters cannot fly back as they are not Swedish citizens. Despite this, he is assisting with a visa appeal and leading a petition that has amassed thousands of signatures advocating their return to Sweden.

This distressing case highlights the broader human and policy challenges tied to Sweden's shifting migration framework. Political science professor Marie Demker points out that Sweden has moved over the past decade from a highly open migration stance to one in line with the European Union's bare minimum, creating what she calls a "legal thicket" that induces anxiety and uncertainty. The sisters' plight underscores the urgent humanitarian consequences of such policies for deported refugees who face perilous situations abroad.