UN Expert Warns Rights Abuses in Afghanistan Must Not Be Normalized

UN Expert Warns Rights Abuses in Afghanistan Must Not Be Normalized
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The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, cautioned that ongoing rights violations in the country should not be accepted as routine, Amu TV. In a statement marking Human Rights Day, Bennett stressed that human rights are “universal and non-negotiable,” urging the international community to remain firm in defending fundamental freedoms.

He reiterated concerns over the Taliban’s extensive restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, most forms of employment, and participation in public life. Bennett has also raised alarms about reports of arbitrary detentions, acts of retaliation against former government officials, and increasing limits on civil society and independent media.

The Taliban have dismissed such findings, insisting their governance aligns with Islamic law. Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10, commemorates the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.