UN rights chief slams ‘deafening silence’ over Afghan suffering

The United Nations' human rights chief has condemned the "deafening silence" surrounding the worsening rights and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Volker Turk, the UN's top rights official, called for an immediate halt to forced returns of Afghans to their country, where they are facing oppressive restrictions imposed by the Taliban.

In a statement, Turk highlighted that the plight of Afghans has been deteriorating, with millions mired in poverty and basic human rights continuing to decline. He emphasized that hundreds of thousands are being forcibly returned from countries where they sought refuge, leaving them exposed to further suffering. Turk noted that the world's silence on the crisis seems to be deafening.

Under Taliban rule, women are prohibited from public spaces, including parks, and from most jobs, while girls' education beyond the age of 12 is banned. According to the UN, around 2.4 million girls have been denied access to secondary education since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Turk warned that new decrees this year are making it more difficult for women to separate from their spouses and implicitly authorize child marriage and violence against women and children.

The UN rights office also reported numerous arrests of men and women by the Taliban for alleged violations such as dress code, beard length, and playing or listening to music. At least 449 individuals, both men and women, have been subjected to corporal punishment in the first half of the year alone. The UN also raised concerns about violations against religious minorities, former government officials, and former members of Afghanistan's defense and security forces.

Turk criticized the continuation of forced returns despite the dire human rights situation and the dwindling flow of foreign aid, which is further exacerbating the misery of Afghans. He urged all states to reconsider their actions and prioritize the lives of the suffering population, urging them to put the well-being of the Afghan people first.