UN human rights experts reject notion of a 'reformed' Taliban in Afghanistan: Report

Over 30 autonomous human rights experts from the United Nations (UN) have appealed for renewed global dedication to aiding the Afghan populace. This plea was articulated in a declaration released on Monday, which commemorated the second anniversary of the Taliban's assumption of power.

These experts noted that over the course of these two years, the disparity between assurances and actions undertaken by Afghanistan's de facto leaders has grown, and they strongly criticised the notion of a "reformed" Taliban.

They said the Taliban's policies on Afghans “have resulted in a continuous, systematic and shocking rescinding of a multitude of human rights, including the rights to education, work, and freedoms of expression, assembly and association.” 

Exclusion, marginalisation, and oppression

The specialists referred to reliable and ongoing accounts of summary killings and various transgressions, including actions that closely resemble forced disappearances. They also pointed out widespread instances of arbitrary imprisonment, instances of torture and mistreatment, and the arbitrary uprooting of individuals.

The most severely affected groups include women and girls, as well as ethnic, religious, and other minority communities, along with individuals with disabilities, those displaced from their homes, and those identifying as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others). Additionally, the impact extends to human rights advocates, civil society representatives, journalists, artists, educators, former government and security personnel, all of whom are also subject to these consequences.

“Despite reassurances by the Taliban de facto authorities that any restrictions, particularly in terms of access to education would be temporary, the facts on the ground have demonstrated an accelerated, systematic, and all engulfing system of segregation, marginalisation and persecution,” they said. 

Women & girls targeted

They observed that when contrasted with the previous year, the bias against women and girls has intensified, subjecting them to a level of dominance so severe that the combined actions amount to gender-based persecution, which is deemed a crime against humanity.

In December 2022, Afghan women were prohibited from engaging in employment with humanitarian groups, a restriction that was subsequently expanded to encompass United Nations agencies as well. The Taliban additionally imposed a ban on girls attending secondary school. More recently, in a number of provinces, de facto governing bodies have purportedly ceased allowing girls above the age of 10 to attend educational institutions.

“Women have even been denied the ability to seek comfort in some of their own spaces such as beauty salons that were frequented and run by women, as these have been recently ordered to close,” the experts said. 

Additionally, the anticipated realisation of a more inclusive style of governance failed to materialise, while the pledge of amnesty for former officials from the government and military is being breached. Moreover, directives aimed at curbing torture and mistreatment within detention facilities are frequently disregarded, among various other issues of concern.

The de facto leaders have also introduced harsh and degrading forms of punishment, including stoning, flogging, and the act of burying individuals under a wall, all of which run counter to established international human rights norms. The experts emphasised that the notion of a "reformed" Taliban has been discredited and shown to be erroneous.

Afghanistan in dire humanitarian need 

The experts also emphasised the grave humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan, coinciding with an economic decline, leaving approximately 16 million children without access to fundamental nourishment and medical care. This distressing situation has spurred detrimental practices like child marriage, abuse, exploitation, and even the illicit trade of children and their organs.

A staggering number of nearly 30 million Afghans are in need of aid, marking an unprecedented high. Regrettably, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently disclosed that a $3.2 billion initiative designed to provide support is facing a "critical funding shortfall" of $1.3 billion.

The experts expressed concerns that potential outcomes may encompass the discontinuation of community-based educational programs, a reduction in food assistance, and the shuttering of healthcare facilities.

“Moreover, these dire conditions, compounded by a plethora of restrictions, and a lack of employment opportunities may lead to harmful coping mechanisms such as joining criminal or armed groups,” they warned. 

“Many Afghans continue to leave the country out of desperation. While countries that are receiving Afghans should be commended, many Afghan refugees reside in host countries in desperate circumstances”.

UN issues appeal

The rights experts put forth a comprehensive six-point appeal, urging the Taliban to promptly reverse their treatment of women and girls. This encompasses granting them full human rights, such as freedom of movement, participation in political and public affairs, and unfettered access to education.

The appeal also entailed ending arbitrary detentions and torture, ensuring unimpeded functioning of civil society and journalists, and implementing measures to prevent discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities. The experts implore the international community to recommit to the people of Afghanistan with renewed determination and heightened unity, as a prerequisite for change.

Looking at key dates of Taliban 2.0 in Afghanistan

Notable dates since the resurgence of the Taliban to authority two years ago, subsequent to the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from the region:

August 15, 2021 — The Taliban seize control of Kabul while internationally supported President Ashraf Ghani escapes the nation.

August 26, 2021 — In an assault on the masses striving to evacuate from Kabul's airport, suicide bombers and gunmen from the Islamic State group claim the lives of over 170 Afghans and 13 US servicemen.

March 23, 2022 — On the day when secondary schools reopen, the Taliban abruptly retract an earlier commitment to permit girls beyond the sixth grade to attend school. Female students who arrive for the initial day of classes are instructed to return home.

May 7, 2022 — The Taliban's Ministry of Virtue and Vice issues directives mandating women in public to don all-covering robes and veil their faces except for their eyes. It suggests that they remain indoors unless they possess essential tasks outside the household.

June 22, 2022 — A potent earthquake strikes a remote area in eastern Afghanistan, causing the demise of over 1,100 individuals. The Taliban confront challenges in rescue endeavors, highlighting a scarcity of resources and reliance on aid organisations.

July 31, 2022 — A US drone strike eliminates al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri at a safehouse in Kabul, where he has been residing for months. US officials accuse the Taliban of harboring him in breach of the Doha Agreement.

September 5, 2022 - An Islamic State suicide bombing targets the Russian Embassy in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of two diplomats. This rare attack on a foreign diplomatic mission unfolds in Afghanistan, where Russia is one of the few countries maintaining an operational embassy, and the sole European nation.

September 30, 2022 - A suicide bomber strikes an educational facility in a Shiite neighborhood of the capital, leading to the loss of many lives, including adolescents sitting for university entrance exams.

November 10, 2022 - A nationwide prohibition on women accessing gyms and parks is enacted. The Taliban claims this measure is due to alleged violations of gender segregation protocols or insufficient adherence to wearing hijabs, Islamic headscarves.

November 20, 2022 - In the first instance of public flogging since the return of Taliban rule, 19 individuals, including suspected adulterers, are subjected to lashings.

December 8, 2022 - Before a sizable audience, the Taliban carries out a public execution of a convicted murderer, marking the first such instance since their assumption of control.

December 21, 2022 - The Taliban deny female students entry to universities, having previously prohibited girls from middle and high schools.

December 24, 2022 - Afghan women are barred by the Taliban from engaging with national and international nongovernmental organisations, further limiting their access to employment opportunities.

March 9, 2023 - The United Nations designates Afghanistan as the most oppressive country globally for women and girls, depriving them of virtually all fundamental rights.

April 6, 2023 - The chief spokesperson for the Taliban relocates his office from Kabul to Kandahar, the movement's spiritual birthplace and the stronghold of supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. This shift signifies a significant power redistribution to the southern region.

April 10, 2023 - The United Nations cautions that its operations in Afghanistan remain significantly underfunded. Despite being the world's most extensive humanitarian crisis, Afghanistan receives the least funding for its UN operations globally.

July 4, 2023 - The Taliban issue an order for beauty salons to cease operations due to their offering of services deemed un-Islamic, like eyebrow shaping. This decree affects around 60,000 female entrepreneurs and further limits social spaces for women outside their homes.

July 19, 2023 - Utilising stun guns, the Taliban suppress a demonstration by women protesting the prohibition of beauty salons. Water is sprayed, and warning shots are fired into the air to disband the crowd.