Afghans Experience Worsening Rights Abuses Under Taliban Rule, Says Rights Group
Amnesty International’s annual report, released Tuesday, highlights a deepening human rights crisis in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, Afghanistan international reported. The report condemns ongoing gender persecution, describing it as crimes against humanity, with women and girls facing severe restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, healthcare access, and education beyond grade six.
The Shia Hazara community continues to face targeted attacks, primarily by ISIS, while the Taliban systematically exclude women and ethnic and religious minorities from political participation and public services. Amnesty criticizes the United Nations and international community for failing to address widespread impunity for past and ongoing crimes.
The report details worsening conditions in Taliban-run prisons, where hundreds of detainees have been sentenced to death without fair trials. Public executions have resumed, often conducted in stadiums. Between November last year and April 2025, multiple executions were reported across provinces. Taliban courts sentenced an estimated 300 to 600 prisoners to death as of July 2024, with media reports suggesting a possible return to stoning for adultery.
Approximately 20,000 people, including 1,500 women—many political prisoners—are held in Taliban prisons, where torture and enforced disappearances are common. Journalists and human rights defenders face arrests and media restrictions. The Taliban have yet to respond to the report.
