Human Rights Watch Urges the Release of Detained UN and NGO Personnel In Afghanistan
Human Rights Watch urges the release of UN and NGO workers who have been detained in Afghanistan, following arrests by the Taliban that have raised significant concerns regarding humanitarian operations.
Human Rights Watch has urged the immediate release of United Nations and non-governmental organization workers detained by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, cautioning that these arrests could jeopardize humanitarian operations within the country.
The rights group reported that six male employees of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation were detained following a summons to the organization’s office in Kabul last month.
The organization focuses on humanitarian initiatives and champions the rights of women and children in Afghanistan.
Human Rights Watch reported that Taliban security forces conducted a raid on the organization’s office in Kabul on June 21, seizing employees’ personal belongings and closing the facility before interrogating staff regarding their activities.
As reported by the rights group, six male leaders of the organization were summoned to the office on July 18, under the belief that they would be permitted to retrieve their confiscated belongings.
According to Human Rights Watch, they were detained upon their arrival at the office.
The families of the six men have reportedlreceived nony information regarding their whereabouts, condition, or whether they have been formally charged with any offense.
On Sunday, Taliban intelligence officials detained two Afghan employees of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in Herat.
The United Nations has confirmed the detention, stating that it has not been informed of any charges against the two employees and has not been granted access to them.
Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that he was inquiring about the detentions but had not yet obtained a complete report on the events that transpired.
Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher for Human Rights Watch focusing on Afghanistan, cautioned that the detention of UNAMA personnel could jeopardize the United Nations’ ability to deliver crucial humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
UNAMA functions as the United Nations’ political mission in Afghanistan while also overseeing human rights and collecting information on developments throughout the country.
The activities of the mission have faced criticism from Taliban authorities in the past.
The recent detentions have heightened worries among rights groups and humanitarian organizations regarding limitations on civil society and the capacity of aid workers to function freely in Afghanistan.
The arrests occur as the Taliban gets ready to commemorate five years since regaining power, while Afghanistan continues to rely significantly on international humanitarian aid.
