UN rights boss says she has credible information on Taliban executions

GENEVA, Aug. 24 (Reuters) – The UN human rights chief said on Tuesday she received credible reports of serious violations by the Taliban in Afghanistan, including “summary executions” of civilians and forces Afghan security forces who surrendered.

Michelle Bachelet did not give any details about the killings in her speech to the Human Rights Council, but urged him to put in place a mechanism to closely monitor the actions of the Taliban.

Under a resolution adopted later Tuesday by the Geneva forum, it is due to report at its September-October session on the situation and the violations committed by the Taliban, and make a more comprehensive written report in March 2022. .

Taliban treatment of women and girls reportedly “fundamental red line,” Bachelet said during emergency council session, held at the behest of Pakistan and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) .

Pakistani Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the resolution expressed grave concern over reports of violations and sent a “message of solidarity to the Afghan people”.

Austrian Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said she joined the consensus even if the resolution “fails”. The bloc had sought to launch an international investigation, she said.

Nasir Ahmad Andisha, a senior Afghan diplomat in the ousted government, called for accountability for the actions of the Taliban, describing an “uncertain and dire” situation where millions fear for their lives. Read more

“Surveillance is essential to prevent further atrocities and ensure accountability,” Andisha said during the talks.

Independent UN human rights experts, in a joint statement, said scores of people were in hiding as “the Taliban continue to search homes from door to door” and seizures of property and reprisals were reported.

“The actions of the Taliban during these months and to this day may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity,” they said.

But Chinese Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Chen Xu, said the US military and the military of other coalition partners, including Britain and Australia, should be held accountable for alleged violations of rights by their forces in Afghanistan. Read more

The United States condemned attacks it said were carried out on civilians, journalists, activists and minority groups, but did not name the Taliban.

Amnesty International said its investigation into the massacre of nine ethnic Hazara men in Ghazni province last month was “proof that the Taliban’s ability to murder and torture has not diminished.”

“The special session of the UN Human Rights Council did not provide a credible response to the escalating human rights crisis in Afghanistan,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, in a press release.

Reporting by Stéphanie Nebahay and Emma Farge; edited by Giles Elgood and Jonathan Oatis

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