The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says about 800 cases of violence have been recorded against individuals affiliated with the former government.
In its report released today, UANMA said after the Taliban’s takeover on 15th of August 2021, at least 800 instances of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and ill-treatment and enforced disappearance were carried out against individuals affiliated with the former government and its security forces.
The report says the violence was carried out despite the announcement of a “general amnesty” for former government officials and former members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).
“UNAMA’s report presents a sobering picture of the treatment of individuals affiliated with the former government and security forces of Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover of the country.”
“Even more so, given they were assured that they would be not targeted, it is a betrayal of the people’s trust,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
“I urge the de facto authorities to carefully consider the findings of this report and to uphold their obligations under international human rights law by preventing further violations and holding perpetrators to account.”
In interviews conducted by UNAMA, individuals described instances of torture and ill-treatment carried out by Islamic Emirate security force members, including beatings with pipes, cables, verbal threats and abuse.
UNAMA also heard from family members whose relatives had been arrested or gone missing, their bodies found days or even months later.
In some instances, individuals have never been found. The former Head of the Herat Women’s Prison, Alia Azizi, never returned home from work on October 2, 2021. As of 22 August 2023, her whereabouts remain unknown.
To date, efforts by the de facto authorities to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable for the incidents described in the UNAMA report have been extremely limited. Even in the few, isolated cases where an investigation was announced by the de facto authorities, progress lacks transparency and accountability; impunity prevails.
The UNAMA report calls on the new rulers to clarify the terms of the general amnesty, to ensure that it is upheld and to conduct credible, transparent criminal investigations into alleged human rights violations against former government officials and ANDSF members.
“While the announcement of a general Amnesty by the Taliban in August 2021 was a welcome step, it continues to not be fully upheld, with impunity for human rights violations prevailing,” said Roza Otunbayeva, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA.
“The de facto authorities must demonstrate a genuine commitment to the general amnesty. This is a crucial step in ensuring real prospects for justice, reconciliation and lasting peace in Afghanistan.”
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the IEA, called the UNAMA report ‘baseless’ and said the amnesty was implemented without any discrimination.
sa/ma
Views: 20
