At least four killed in Taliban crackdown on protests, says UN | Taliban

The Taliban’s violent crackdown on protests against their hardline rule has resulted in four documented deaths, according to a UN human rights officer who said the group used live ammunition, whips and batons to break up demonstrations.

Ravina Shamdasani, the UN human rights spokeswoman, said at a briefing in Geneva that she had also received reports of house-to-house searches of the protesters.

Protests against the return of the Taliban to power, many of which were led by women fearing for their status in the Islamist group, were the target of violence in several locations and were officially banned this week without prior approval by the new Taliban group Home Office.

Shamdasani called cracking down on dissenting opinions as “difficult” and also described how intimidation journalists covering the demonstrations faced, including in one case threats of “beheading,” apparently indicative of an incident involving two people Afghan journalists were arrested, flogged and threatened earlier this week.

“We saw a reaction from the Taliban that was unfortunately violent,” said Shamdasani. “In one case, when a journalist was kicked in the head, he was said to be: ‘You’re lucky you weren’t beheaded.’ There was really a lot of intimidation from journalists who were just trying to do their jobs.

“We call on the Taliban to immediately stop the use of force and the arbitrary detention of those exercising their right to peaceful assembly and journalists covering the protests,” Shamdasani said.

The UN comments follow growing concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban came to power last month amid the US-led withdrawal of foreign troops.

Despite public assurances of freedom of the media, women’s rights and freedom of expression, the Taliban have acted swiftly against growing opposition to their return, not least against the demonstrations that have broken out in several cities.

Earlier this week, the new Home Office, led by Sirajuddin Haqqani wanted in the US for terrorism, banned protests that did not take place by the Taliban for the first time since the appointment of a transitional cabinet composed entirely of male, Pashtu-speaking Taliban loyalists pre-approved.

The UN statement underscores the widespread media and human rights watchdogs reporting on serious human rights violations that have occurred since the Taliban came to power, including allegations of extrajudicial killings, arrests, violence and the suppression of freedom of expression and women’s rights.

As Afghanistan faces an impending humanitarian crisis, the US also reiterated the message on Thursday that aid from Washington depends on the Taliban’s interim government meeting its previously expressed commitments to stability for Afghanistan and the region and demonstrating comprehensive inclusion.

The US Deputy Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis reiterated the US position on Thursday in front of the UN Security Council that “every legitimacy and support must be earned”.

He said the standards set by the international community are clear and include facilitating safe transit for Afghans and foreign nationals wishing to leave Afghanistan and complying with the country’s obligations under international humanitarian law “including those protecting civilians affect”.

“We are closely monitoring whether these standards are being adhered to,” he said.

DeLaurentis added, “The United States remains indebted to the Afghan people,” saying that as the country’s largest humanitarian donor it is helping local partners to provide assistance, “but the needs are enormous”.

On Friday, the World Food Program reported that around 93% of households in Afghanistan were not consuming enough food following the price hike following the return of the Taliban to power. An assessment of the UN development program the day before suggested that by next year without international help the country could plunge into near universal poverty.

UN concerns were raised when evacuation flights for foreigners resumed, but thousands of vulnerable Afghans who had helped the US were still stranded in their homes, the US embassy closed, all American diplomats and troops disappeared, and the Taliban were responsible.

Numerous foreigners, including Americans and British, left Afghanistan on a commercial flight from Kabul on Thursday in cooperation with the Taliban.