Amnesty voices concerns over HRs violations

KABUL (Tolo News): Amnesty International in a report expressed concerns over the violation of human rights by the current Afghan authorities.

“The nine cases that we have documented contribute to a growing pattern of arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions and enforced disappearances by the Taliban against those who have tried to question the Taliban by way of peaceful protests or by exercising their right to freedom of expression,” the report read.

“In the last two months, January and February, more than 60 people including children faced either arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention or enforced disappearance at the hands of Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.”

Amnesty International called the arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions and enforced disappearances the latest tactic by the Islamic Emirate to silence the voice of people. The report said that the ongoing violations have created an intimidating environment for the victims’ families and others to “openly report violations and advocate for redress and change.”

Heather Barr, associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch said that they have seen a deterioration of media freedom under the ruling of the current government.

“We have seen very serious deterioration in media freedom under the Taliban with journalists being detained even in recent days and some brutal attacks on some journalists,” she said.

Masroor Lutfi, of the Afghanistan National Journalists Union (ANJU), said that the journalists should be treated based on the law. “There is a need for journalists to be treated based on law and due process in the country. The reasons for arrests should be shared with the people and media,” he said.

The US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West said that he is “deeply concerned by the recent arbitrary arrest” of TOLOnews journalists. “We seriously deny the report and allegations of Amnesty International. Their information is based on incorrect information.

After the Islamic Emirate swept into power, the rights of all Afghans and all elements were ensured. The Islamic Emirate is making provisions to address the rights of the people,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate. Earlier, many human rights watchdog groups and other organizations expressed concerns over the violation of human rights by the current Afghan government.