UN rights envoy: Taliban must reverse restrictions on Afghan women

The United Nations rights envoy in Afghanistan said on Thursday the country faces “severe” human rights challenges and called on Taliban to reverse growing restrictions on women and investigate attacks against religious minorities.

Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan spoke to reporters at the end of an 11-day visit to the country, his first since his position was created.

“I urge the authorities to acknowledge human rights challenges that they are facing and to close the gap between their words and the deeds,” he said.

Bennett expressed concerns over access to education after the Taliban made a U-turn on allowing girls to go to high school in March and this month announced that women must cover their faces.

Bennett also called for investigation of attacks targeting Afghanistan’s Shia Muslims; a trend he said bore “hallmarks of crimes against humanity”.

Recent months have seen more attacks on mosques and other civilian targets, some of which have been claimed by ISIS.

The militant group said it was behind three explosions in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday that killed at least 15 in predominantly Shia areas.