The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, has been followed by a wave of revenge killings and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and other perceived opponents. Despite a proclaimed amnesty, Human Rights Watch has documented more than 100 killings and disappearances in just four provinces since the Taliban took over.
The Taliban's actions are a violation of international human rights law and a betrayal of the amnesty they promised. They are also generating fear and uncertainty among the Afghan people, making it difficult to rebuild the country and promote peace and reconciliation.
Who is being targeted?
The Taliban are targeting a wide range of people, including:
Former members of the ANSF, including military personnel, police, intelligence service members, and militia
Former government officials
People accused of supporting the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP)
People with Salafist views or particular tribal affiliations
How are the killings and disappearances being carried out?
The Taliban are using a variety of methods to kill and disappear their targets, including:
Summary executions: The Taliban are summarily executing people without trial or due process. In some cases, they are killing people who have already surrendered or who are in their custody.
Enforced disappearances: The Taliban are forcibly disappearing people by detaining them without acknowledging their detention or revealing their whereabouts. This leaves families in the dark about their loved ones' fate and makes it difficult to hold the Taliban accountable for any abuses.
Night raids: The Taliban are conducting abusive night raids to apprehend and, at times, forcibly disappear suspected former officials.
Torture and ill-treatment: The Taliban are torturing and ill-treating people in their custody. This includes beatings, electric shocks, and waterboarding.
What can be done to stop the killings and disappearances?
The international community must take urgent action to stop the Taliban's killings and disappearances. This includes:
Demanding that the Taliban immediately end all human rights abuses and uphold their amnesty promises.
Imposing targeted sanctions on Taliban officials responsible for abuses.
Supporting the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international human rights organizations to monitor the situation in Afghanistan and hold the Taliban accountable.
The Afghan people deserve to live in a country where their human rights are respected and where they can live free from fear of persecution. The international community must stand with the Afghan people and demand that the Taliban end their human rights abuses.
Additional information:
The Taliban's killings and disappearances are particularly egregious in light of the fact that they promised an amnesty to all former government officials and ANSF members.
The Taliban's actions are also generating fear and uncertainty among the Afghan people, making it difficult to rebuild the country and promote peace and reconciliation.
The international community must take urgent action to stop the Taliban's killings and disappearances. This includes demanding that the Taliban immediately end all human rights abuses and uphold their amnesty promises, imposing targeted sanctions on Taliban officials responsible for abuses, and supporting the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international human rights organizations to monitor the situation in Afghanistan and hold the Taliban accountable.
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