UNAMA Highlights Human Rights Violations of Hazaras, Shia Community in New Report

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a report on human rights situation in Afghanistan for the period of July to September and highlighted how minority communities continue to face human rights violations.

The report highlighted how between June and August, there had been alleged killings of Hazaras and destruction of property and agricultural crops belonging to Hazara farmers in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province.

UNAMA in the report stated that there were allegations that local Taliban security forces might have been involved in these incidents.

Also, the UN organisation stressed that between January and September, it recorded killings of at least six Hazara residents, destruction of property, and incidents of beatings.

Meanwhile, it also added that there had been many violations of rights of Shia community members. Citing examples, it stated that on July 25 and 26, in Kabul, Taliban security forces reportedly mistreated Shia mourners for not adhering to previously announced security arrangements.

The report highlighted how on July 28, in Ghazni city, Taliban security personnel fired upon a crowd of Shia mourners, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including a child and a woman.

While stressing on human rights violations, the report also spoke about arbitrary arrests and detentions and said that the Taliban officials continue to arrest human rights defenders, particularly women’s rights activists, and media workers without specifying grounds for detention.

UNAMA touched upon the state of freedom of the media in the country under the Taliban as well. The report stated that there have been concerns among media personnel regarding potential increased pressure and censorship by the Taliban authorities.

The closure of a radio and TV station, Hamisha Bahar, in Jalalabad city on August 1 for running mixed-gender journalism classes further heightened concerns about media freedom, the report said.

The report also had details of how the Taliban continues to enforce restrictions on women, including a ban on music and monitoring men’s appearance.

“The Taliban officials have publicly implemented corporal punishments of convicted individuals, including large groups, in various parts of the country,” the report added on the issue of the deteriorating judicial system.