Even though the Taliban’s security guaranteed the safety of ex-government officials, the United Nations obtained certain credible reports proving otherwise.
More than 100 erstwhile Afghan public officials, military units, and those who collaborated with coalition forces have been brutally murdered since the militant faction seized control of the government in the middle of August 2021.
General Amnesty?
As revealed by the Associated Press, the shocking facts were contained in a report handed to the Security Council by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In a speech to the United Nations Security Council last week, Guterres said: “As I call on the global community to ramp up its solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, I issue a similarly urgent appeal to the Taliban to acknowledge and safeguard the basic human rights every individual carries.”
UN report: Taliban killed many former Afghan officials
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' report to the Security Council shows worsening living conditions for the 39 million Afghans, even though the war ended with a Taliban takeover in August. pic.twitter.com/ayjSBTLE1H— yavelade (@yavelade) January 31, 2022
It was revealed by the Associated Press on Sunday that upwards of two-thirds of the victims were believed to have been killed in extrajudicial executions carried out by the Taliban or its affiliated groups.
This happened notwithstanding the Taliban’s recent announcement of a “general amnesty” for those linked with the previous regime and the U.S.-led international forces.
Serious allegations of extrajudicial executions of at least 50 people suspected of association with ISIL-KP, the Islamist Group terrorist organization in Afghanistan, were also received by the United Nations political mission in Afghanistan.
Abuse of Human Rights, Threats, and Intimidation
The United Nations political mission in Afghanistan received reliable reports of “enforced abductions and other breaches of the right to life and security of person” of previous governments and coalition officials.
He added that nongovernmental organizations and media members continue to be targeted by the Taliban and Islamic State extremist groups.
UN chief @antonioguterres warns that the economy of Afghanistan is on a downward spiral.
“To pull it back from the brink, liquidity must be rapidly injected.
Time is of the essence.
Without action, lives will be lost, and despair and extremism will grow.” #AfghanistanCrisis pic.twitter.com/qgPlmO2CLJ— The South Asia Times (@thesouthasiatim) January 30, 2022
Eight civil society activists have been killed; three were killed by the Taliban and another three were killed by Islamic State extremist groups.
Ten others have been constantly subjected to temporary detention, physical assaults, and acts of aggression by the Taliban. Armed individuals, one being an ISIS member, shot and murdered two journalists.
According to the secretary’s statement, several incidences of temporary detention, beatings, violence, and intimidation were reported by United Nations missions, with 42 of them being committed by the Taliban.
In 2021, the Taliban seized control of most of Afghanistan, as U.S. and NATO soldiers prepared to leave the nation after two decades of conflict.
They marched into Kabul on August 15th, encountering no opposition from the Afghan army or the country’s head of state, Ashraf Ghani, who fled the city the previous day.
Abuse of human rights and complete lack of care of the consequences of such actions must not go unpunished. It is the responsibility of the United Nations and its affiliates to stand up and make sure justice is upheld.
