UN reports deaths and torture in Taliban detention centers

The United Nations has reported more than 1,600 instances of human rights violations against individuals held by the Taliban authorities. Approximately half of these incidents involved acts of torture and mistreatment, mostly carried out by police and intelligence agents, according to a report released on Wednesday. The UN Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) disclosed that, from January 2022 to July 2023, 18 people had lost their lives while in detention, either in prisons or under the custody of the police and intelligence services. Since the departure of foreign forces in 2021, the Taliban have been in control of the police and intelligence agencies. UNAMA stated in a release, “Detainees suffered severe physical abuse, including beatings, electric shocks, choking, stress-inducing positions, waterboarding, as well as being blindfolded and threatened when authorities sought to extract confessions or information.” Other violations included not informing detainees of the reasons for their arrest, denying access to legal counsel, and inadequate medical care while in custody. Approximately one in ten of the violations affected women, while journalists and members of civil society made up nearly a quarter of those subjected to these violations. In response, the Taliban-led Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement accompanying the report, contested the accuracy of the reported violations, particularly concerning journalists and civil society advocates. The Ministry asserted that authorities and the judiciary were actively working to enhance oversight and ensure compliance with decrees issued by the supreme leader, which prohibited torture and the coercion of confessions. The UN acknowledged these decrees and the increased access to prisons as “positive developments” but called for more substantial efforts to address the situation. Roza Otunbayeva, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, “These documented cases underscore the need for swift and intensified action by all parties involved. It is crucial to explore further engagement with the de facto authorities to put an end to these practices.” (With inputs from agencies)