Human rights violations: UN raises serious allegations against Taliban

In a report, the UN denounces massive human rights violations by the Taliban in Afghanistan. They killed more than 100 former government members and aides. The militant Islamists deny this.

According to a UN report, the radical Islamic Taliban have apparently killed more than a hundred former government employees and local international officials since taking power in Afghanistan five months ago.

Regardless of the general amnesty announced by the Taliban, there are “credible allegations of killings” and of people disappearing by force. According to a letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the Security Council.

Taliban deny allegations

In more than two-thirds of the cases, the Taliban or their allies are said to be responsible for the killings. There are also credible reports that at least 50 suspected members of the extremist group known as “Islamic State” have been executed without trial.

The Taliban denied the allegations. “The Islamic Emirate has not killed anyone since the amnesty was announced,” the interior ministry said on Twitter. The reported killings are the result of “personal hostility”. The cases would be investigated.

Guterres proposes new monitoring mechanism

The UN report also denounces further massive violations of human rights by those in power in Afghanistan. Human rights activists and journalists “continue to be attacked, intimidated, harassed, arbitrarily arrested, abused and killed”.

Peaceful protests are being prevented by the Taliban, and access to work and education for women and girls has been massively curtailed since the Taliban took power. Guterres complains in his letter: A complete social and economic system is being shut down. Among other things, the UN chief is proposing to the Security Council that a new body be set up to monitor the human rights situation.

The humanitarian situation is getting worse

The Taliban government is currently not recognized by any country in the world. Since their return to power, the radical Islamic Taliban have been more moderate than during their brutal first rule from 1996 to 2001. Internationally, however, there are considerable doubts about the Taliban’s commitment to protecting human rights. Among others, former local staff of the US army, German armed forces and other international troops or independent organizations have feared for their safety since the Taliban took power.

In addition to the precarious security situation in Afghanistan, there is a severe humanitarian crisis. According to the UN, half of the Afghan population is threatened by food insecurity. The reason for this is serious crop failures as a result of a long drought. Added to this is the rampant poverty since the Taliban took power. Most Afghans employed in public administration have not been paid for months.

Afghanistan has long been dependent on international aid. However, after the Taliban took power, international donors froze their aid to the authorities in Kabul. Then, in December, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to allow humanitarian aid to Afghanistan despite sanctions against the Taliban. However, human rights and aid organizations are demanding that the West release further funds.