Reports

‘The Taliban’s new decision will increase the mortality rate among Afghan women.’The Taliban de facto administration has once again demonstrated its disregard for the fundamental needs of Afghan society. In yet another irresponsible act, the Taliban leadership has issued a decree banning medical education institutions from admitting women and girls to professional medical training programs. This decision has caused widespread shock and deep concern both nationally and internationally.A pressing question arises: how can the vast number of women suffering from physical and psychological issues in Afghanistan be saved from their current plight if they are denied the opportunity to acquire medical skills for treatment and care? Meanwhile, many Taliban leaders’ families reside abroad, unaffected by these severe social, economic, and cultural hardships. The primary victims of such inhumane decisions are Afghanistan’s impoverished and destitute population. Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates in the world. Furthermore, the feminization of poverty in recent years has exacerbated health issues among women. The Taliban’s prior policies have severely restricted women’s access to healthcare facilities and treatment. In this context, shutting down women’s medical education institutions and banning their studies will drastically reduce the number of midwives, further limiting access to safe childbirth services. As a result, women and newborns will face even greater risks of death during childbirth. It is clear that if the rapid imposition of restrictions on women’s basic human rights is not halted, the entire society will suffer significantly.HRD+ urgently calls on the international community, especially organizations involved in global health and humanitarian aid—including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the European Union’s Health Support Commission, international oversight bodies for healthcare in impoverished nations, global humanitarian aid organizations, and human rights monitoring entities worldwide—to intervene immediately. We urge them to exert pressure…

INTRODUCTIONSince taking power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed ever-more extreme restrictions on human rights. The rights of women and girls have been especially affected: they have been barred from education beyond sixth grade and many forms of employment, and banned from singing, reading aloud, or even being heard outside their houses. LGBTQI+ people face arbitrary detention, extortion, torture and other ill-treatment and unlawful killing. Taliban forces have summarily executed and forcibly disappeared former government employees, especially security officers. Ethnic and religious minorities face significant risks of persecution and discrimination. Journalists, human rights defenders, and protesters, particularly women, face harassment, arbitrary detention, and violent reprisals. The Taliban have imposed cruel and inhuman punishments, including public executions, flogging and other forms of corporal punishment. The ongoing humanitarian crisis, compounded by economic collapse and the Taliban’s ban on women aid workers, has led to widespread poverty and food insecurity. Women and girls face limits on their freedom of movement that impacts their access to health care, resulting systemic abuses of reproductive rights and the right to health more generally.As noted in the recent United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stocktaking report on accountability options and processes for human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, addressing long-standing and entrenched impunity for past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses in the country is essential to ensure victims’ rights to justice, truth and reparation. It is also crucial for long-term sustainable peace, development and reconciliation, establishing the rule of law, preventing recurrence, and rebuilding trust among the full range of members of Afghan society.The latest resolution on Afghanistan (57/3), adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) by consensus in October 2024, provides a blueprint for the action that is needed going forward. It stresses the…

Recently, 12 innocent Afghan citizens were martyred by “unknown” assailants and terrorists while they were engaged in prayer and worship at a mosque in Nahrin District, Baghlan Province. This is not the first time that our devout compatriots have been massacred during worship by cruel and terrorist groups. The Taliban de facto administration has failed to publish the results of any investigations regarding such incidents, deepening ambiguity about the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.The Taliban de facto administration, which once claimed security as one of its key achievements, has been unable to address such critical matters. These repeated, organized, and group killings with unidentified perpetrators raise significant questions about who is behind these inhumane actions. Over the years, the Taliban’s actions have clearly demonstrated sensitivity toward other religious groups, and their silence in this regard further implicates their responsibility. Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) strongly condemns these mysterious and organized killings and puts forward the following recommendations:The Taliban de facto administration must immediately investigate the perpetrators of this group killing of our citizens in Nahrin, publish the findings, and present concrete evidence.HRD+ calls on the Taliban de facto administration to release the findings of previous investigations into attacks against followers of different religious minorities in the country to inform the Afghan public.HRD+ urges Ms. Nazila Ghanea, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to intervene in this matter and provide investigations and recommendations to the Afghan people and the international community.HRD+ calls on Mr. Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, to take immediate action and, in coordination with civil society organizations and human rights activists, prepare a special report on the “challenges to freedom of belief in Afghanistan” and share it with national and international community alongside constructive and actionable recommendations.HRD+ strongly…

Once again, terrorists have committed another crime against humanity by opening fire on 14 of our fellow citizens in Daikundi. The victims of this tragic incident were civilians belonging to the Hazara community. They were massacred collectively due to their ethnic and religious identity, a clear and undeniable example of a crime against humanity. The terrorist attackers forced a group of travellers off their vehicles near the village of Palo Sang, in the Zartalay Valley on the border of Ghor and Daikundi provinces, and then brutally executed them. According to information received by HRD+, the victims had no political affiliations with any armed groups in Afghanistan and were completely innocent. The victims hailed from the village of Qarawdal, part of the Bandar region in Sangtakht and Bandar district of Daikundi province.HRD+ clearly declares:The Taliban administration, which has seized political power, has failed to provide the security they promised. Despite their claims, they have not been able to bring peace to the people. Security is a basic human right for every citizen, and no group should cause the slaughter of innocent people in our nation. We firmly demand that the Taliban administration take immediate action to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of this tragic event.Recently, attacks on Hazara citizens and Shia followers in Afghanistan have increased, raising the risk of sectarian conflicts. We call on the people of Afghanistan to stand in solidarity with our Hazara compatriots during this sensitive time, as they deserve to live a dignified life in peace, both mentally and physically.HRD+ urgently calls on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its Prosecutor, Mr. Karim A. A. Khan, to take immediate and serious action concerning the case of the Hazara massacres in Afghanistan. Most crimes against humanity targeting Shia and Hazara communities have been…

Dear Excellencies, We, the undersigned Afghanistan and international human rights and civil society organisations, write to you once again to share our concerns regarding the grave human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and to reiterate the urgent need for accountability for gross, widespread and systematic human rights violations and abuses that continue to be committed across Afghanistan, including crimes under international law, some of which may amount to crimes against humanity.We call on the UN Human Rights Council, at its upcoming 57th regular session to: renew and strengthen with the necessary resources, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; establish a parallel and complementary independent mechanism to investigate, collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of human rights violations and abuses and crimes under international law; and ensure continuation of a dedicated space for enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan with meaningful follow-up to the report of the Special Rapporteur on Taliban’s repression against women and girls. We further urge you to seriously consider the calls for the recognition and codification of gender apartheid as a crime under international law.This letter, just as in our previous letter shared ahead of the 54th session of the Council in September 2023, is an outcome of consultations with Afghanistan’s civil society and human rights defenders located inside and outside of the country and enjoys broad support from Afghanistan’s civil society.In the past three years, the Taliban have completely reversed measures previously adopted to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Afghanistan. The Taliban, as the de facto authority, have spurned Afghanistan’s international obligations and have continued to introduce arbitrary, unlawful and wide-ranging restrictions on human rights.With bans on secondary and higher education, employment, freedom of movement,…

Recently, some criminals have carried out terrorist attacks against the police and German citizens, leaving harmful impacts on the political and social atmosphere of the country. Some of these lawless and criminal individuals, who have attacked, injured, or killed innocent people, are Afghan citizens who, due to difficult conditions, left their country and sought asylum in Germany. However, these individuals, without adhering to German law, culture, and social ethics, have committed such crimes, which are undoubtedly subject to legal prosecution. Unfortunately, as a result of these shocking incidents, xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment have spread in Germany, influencing the country's policymakers. Recently, the German government has begun deporting groups of Afghan refugees, forcibly returning those with criminal and legal records to Afghanistan. This approach has also led some other European countries, such as Austria, to emulate Germany, resulting in the expansion of the policy of deporting Afghan refugees and migrants across Europe. The HRD+ has closely monitored the situation and declares: Individual Responsibility for Crimes: Since crime is considered an individual and personal act, the individual crimes of people should not be generalized to other asylum and migration cases. From a criminological perspective, a crime represents the actions of a legal or natural person and requires legal consequences and accountability. No one else, except the criminal individuals, is obligated to pay penalties or face punishment. Therefore, based on the principles of the rule of law, transparency, justice, and accountability must be applied according to individual responsibility before the law, and the outcome of a crime or its punishment should not be extended to innocent individuals. Review of Criminal Cases: The examination of criminals' cases by specialized groups should occur within the scope of access to justice, and the identities of the criminals should be considered confidential. This will allow…

21 August 2024Recently, the de facto administration has announced a travel ban on Mr. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, preventing him from continuing his visits to the country. This irresponsible action has caused deep concern among all human rights defenders and civil society activists in Afghanistan. Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) strongly condemns this decision by the de facto administration and declares:Mr. Bennett's mission is based on the principles and accepted norms of international law, particularly international human rights law, and has been approved by the UN Human Rights Council. The primary goal of this mission is to monitor the human rights situation, document human rights violations, and provide detailed reports on human rights in Afghanistan. Therefore, no agenda outside the scope of human rights is included in this mission, making it a valuable process.Mr. Bennett's mission in Afghanistan is expertise-driven. This mission consists of a team of human rights specialists who are not committed to any government or political entity but are directly accountable to the human rights structures of the United Nations and report accordingly.The outlook of the UN Special Rapporteur's mission on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan is to improve the human rights situation by providing constructive recommendations to both the national and international communities. States and international organizations use the Special Rapporteur's recommendations to coordinate their programs aimed at supporting human rights and defending victims.Given the challenging situation in Afghanistan, the Special Rapporteur is considered the most important mission for monitoring the human rights situation in the country. Governments are obligated to provide constructive cooperation with UN Special Rapporteurs. Therefore, the travel ban on the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan is considered contrary to the accepted principles…

The people of Afghanistan have endured three years of challenging conditions involving restrictions on human rights, widespread poverty, and a lack of legitimacy and the rule of law. During this period, the de facto Taliban administration imposed a dictatorial, religious extremist rule on society and banned citizens' freedoms. The Taliban disregarded the right to political participation, a foundational citizen right, and failed to establish any mechanism for national legitimacy. This lack of national legitimacy has led to a void in international legitimacy and isolated Afghanistan from the global community.Over the past three years, our people have experienced widespread human rights abuses, with women bearing the brunt of the social crisis. Children have faced hardships in the harsh economic and social environment, while poverty and unemployment have increased. Citizens have waited in long lines to obtain passports in order to leave Afghanistan. Reports from global sources indicate that Afghanistan is currently facing a humanitarian crisis, with a significant number of citizens suffering from mental health issues and depression. Due to the restrictions on human rights, the international community has been unable to provide the necessary support to the people of Afghanistan.Over the past three years, civil society actors, human rights activists, and women's rights defenders have faced threats, torture, and imprisonment. The Taliban have not hesitated to use inhumane treatment against their opponents and critics, leaving society in complete turmoil and distress. A large number of intellectuals and experts have left the country.The HRD+, considering the inhumane actions of the Taliban in the past three years, raises the following points:First, the de facto Taliban administration is not representative of the people of Afghanistan and has been imposed on our people by force and coercion. We urge all national and international actors to pressure and impose further restrictions on the…

The military takeover by the Taliban in August 2021 marked the beginning of a tragedy for the country’s cultural and artistic community. The de facto administration has imposed numerous threats and restrictions, creating harsh living conditions through inhumane treatment, beatings, and insults. Arts such as music, sculpture, dance, theater, cinema, and painting have been banned, leading to a soulless society. Some artists have been killed, and many have been tortured and publicly humiliated. Recently, De facto authorites cut off the hand of an artist for playing the guitar and subjected him to severe physical and psychological torture, exemplifying the immense suffering inflicted on the country’s culture.Afghanistan’s cultural identity is globally recognized, having offered some of the world’s best cultural figures. Prestigious museums house valuable Afghan artworks. Music, traditional dances, sculpture, painting, and singing have deep historical roots. However, the de facto administration, driven by narrow-minded and dogmatic religious-political ideology, aims to eradicate cultural artifacts and impose extensive restrictions on cultural figures. Afghanistan’s multicultural identity, composed of historical subcultures, value-based traditions, and languages, is increasingly under threat. De facto authorites have banned Persian (Dari) terms, one of the world’s oldest languages, and removed portraits and works of great historical figures from major galleries. These actions have severely damaged the spiritual essence of the country. Koocheh Kharaabat, once the origin of music, celebrations, and praises, is now silent. Local cultures and traditional music in every province are being censored and replaced by De facto authorites’s oppressive regime. Buildings and places dedicated to cinema, theater, music performances, traditional dances, and galleries have been attacked, and their equipment destroyed. National and international fine arts departments have been removed from the education system, and the Music School and the Afghanistan Institute of Music have been closed. Civil institutions supporting culture in Afghanistan are no longer…

Recently, distressing and shocking reports about the situation of Afghan migrants and refugees in Iran has affected the morale of the people of Afghanistan and the global humanitarian community. Documented reports published by the media and refugee support organizations indicate mistreatment of homeless and wandering Afghan migrants in Iran. Statements issued by local Iranian authorities emphasize shelter restrictions and call for the cessation of basic amenities for Afghan migrants. Additionally, people in some provinces of Iran have attacked Afghan migrants, subjecting them to physical abuse and humiliation. Credible reports and research indicate that arrests, torture, and harassment by Iranian police have been imposed on Afghan refugees and migrants, with some disappearing cases. Restrictions on employment, education, and access to health services have made life extremely difficult for Afghan migrants. These reports also state that many refugees and migrants suffer from depression and mental health issues. Afghan migrants detained in Iranian detention centers and prisons lack basic justice and access to information. Employment restrictions have led to high unemployment and uncertainty among Afghan migrants, resulting in widespread poverty among their families. Discrimination against Afghan migrants is widespread in all aspects of life for millions of migrants.Findings of the Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) shows that a large number of refugees fled to Iran after the fall of the Republic to save their lives. Reports from the United Nations and human rights organizations indicate that many former government soldiers, human rights defenders, government employees, and ethnic-religious minorities have been tortured and harassed by the de facto Taliban administration, with some losing their lives. Therefore, individuals at serious risk have considered seeking asylum as the only option to ensure their safety and that of their families, and have sought refuge in Iran. Based on the 1951 Refugee Convention, the International Covenant…