The Taliban has reportedly denied entry to Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. This action marks a significant setback for international efforts to monitor and address the human rights situation in the country since the Taliban’s takeover.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced the decision, citing allegations of bias and the spread of “propaganda” in Bennett’s reporting. The Taliban claims that Bennett’s assessments misrepresent the realities on the ground and provide misleading information to the global community, exaggerating minor issues.
Richard Bennett, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, has been a consistent voice raising concerns about the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the severe restrictions imposed on women and girls. He has previously stated that the Taliban’s treatment of women could constitute crimes against humanity.
In response to the denial of entry, Bennett expressed his disappointment, labeling it a “step backwards” and a worrying signal regarding the Taliban’s engagement with the UN. Despite this, he affirmed his commitment to continue working with the Afghan people and other stakeholders remotely, vowing to persist in documenting human rights violations.
This is not an isolated incident, as the Taliban has previously criticized the UN’s human rights monitoring and accused international organizations of focusing solely on negative aspects of their rule. The denial of entry to the UN’s top human rights envoy for Afghanistan raises serious questions about the Taliban’s willingness to allow independent scrutiny of their actions and further isolates the de facto authorities from the international community. The international community has big largely withheld recognition of the Taliban government, citing concerns over human rights, particularly women’s rights. This latest move is likely to further complicate any potential for engagement and underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring human rights and accountability in Afghanistan.