RASC News Agency: A coalition of politicians, former government officials, and human rights activists have addressed an open letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urging the international community particularly the UN Security Council, the Human Rights Council, and UNAMA to take decisive action in the protection of the fundamental rights of the Afghanistani people. Released on Sunday, October 6, the letter stressed that international bodies must undertake urgent, concrete measures to safeguard the basic rights of Afghanistani citizens, as guaranteed under international human rights law.
The letter draws attention to the recent arrest of political analyst Javed Kohistani by the Taliban, categorizing it as a case of “enforced disappearance.” It states: “Such blatant actions, along with enforced disappearances, are clear violations of international human rights standards.” Additionally, it condemns the denial of medical care to Kohistani, labeling it “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment” under international law.
The signatories argue that the Taliban have systematically violated the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of the Afghanistani people. They call on UNAMA, in its capacity as a political mission in Afghanistan, to increase pressure on the Taliban to ensure transparency in the detention of individuals. One section of the letter reads: “UNAMA must hold the Taliban accountable to guarantee unfettered access to fair trials for all detained individuals.” Further, the letter calls for the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to investigate the Taliban’s discriminatory policies against Afghanistani women. It also urges the UN Security Council to press the Taliban to lift the travel ban on Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan.
This letter was endorsed by a number of high-profile political figures and human rights advocates, including Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Malik Setiz, researcher and human rights activist; Abdul Latif Pedram, politician and head of the Political Committee of the Afghanistani Federalists’ Assembly; Shaharzad Akbar, former Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission; Shukria Barakzai, former parliamentarian; and Mujib Khalwatgar, journalist.
It is worth noting that, over the past three years, the Taliban have systematically violated the rights of Afghanistani citizens, with women and girls being particularly targeted. Numerous human rights activists and journalists have been detained during this period. In just the past few days, the Taliban have arrested and imprisoned a political analyst and two journalists.
