KABUL (SW) – In its quarterly report, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed concerns over rights of women and girls, media freedom, targeting of former officials and security forces, as well as, corporal punishment and civilian harm among other issues in the country.
This update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan covering the period from April to June 2024, is based on monitoring undertaken by UNAMA’s Human Rights Service in accordance with its mandate from the UN Security Council, it said.
It said that on June 2, 2024, the de-facto Directorate General of Administrative Affairs issued a letter to some de-facto provincial departments instructing them to “Standardize” the salaries of women civil Servants hired by the former Republic administration to 5,000 Afghanis (approximately $70 USD) per month, regardless of grade. In late June, several de-facto Directorates of Education ordered the freezing of payment of salaries of their female employees following a letter by the de-facto Ministry of Education to the office of the Islamic Emirate authorities’ Supreme Leader Seeking clarification on how to implement the “standardization” of women employees’ salaries.
On July 7, the de facto Ministry of Finance issued a letter clarifying that the Directive applies to women civil servants “Who do not attend work daily or do not perform their duties according to their job description” and does not apply to women who are reporting to work and performing.
The UNAMA also expressed concerns over a number of incidents claimed by Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP) resulted in civilian casualties. According to the claims issued by ISKP, the incidents targeted Shi’a Muslims and the de facto authorities in Kabul, Herat, Bamyan and Kandahar.
Between 1 April and 30 June, UNAMA Human Rights documented at least 60 instances of arbitrary arrest and detention, at least 10 instances of torture and ill-treatment, verbal threats and at least five killings of former government officials and former ANDSF members (four by unknown perpetrators, one by the de facto authorities).
UNAMA Human Rights has received reports of such violations occurring against individuals after they were forcibly returned to Afghanistan, highlighting the continued risk of torture, ill-treatment and other irreparable harm they face after their return.
On press freedom, it said that following an announcement by the de facto Ministry of Justice on 31 March prohibiting political parties,12 numerous media outlets with alleged political affiliations faced suspension. It added that on 16 April, the de facto Ministry of Information and Culture and the Media Violations Commission decided to suspend the activities of Barya and Noor TV Channels for allegedly violating national and Islamic values. On 7 June, the de facto Ministry of Justice announced that Tamadon TV would be suspended due to its affiliation with a political party and its premises located on land belonging to the de facto authorities.
UNAMA said that the de facto authorities continue to implement judicial corporal punishment in public on a regular basis, at times in large groups. For example, on 4 June in Sar-e-Pul
city, 63 people were publicly flogged by the de facto authorities having been convicted of a range of crimes, including armed robbery, adultery, running away from home and pederasty.
