Afghanistan: Taliban Denies Entry to UN Rights Expert
Afghanistan: Taliban Denies Entry to UN Rights Expert
The Facts
The Taliban de facto administration has barred Richard Bennett, the UN-appointed special rapporteur, from entering Afghanistan for allegedly "spreading propaganda."UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan Richard Bennett has been barred from entering the country for allegedly "spreading propaganda" against the Taliban administration.
In 2022, a year after the Taliban returned to power, the UN Human Rights Council appointed Bennett to observe Afghanistan's human rights situation.He reported in June that Afghan women and girls were subject to a treatment akin to "gender apartheid," noting "the systemic oppression" could amount to a crime against humanity.
The Spin
The Taliban banning Bennett from visiting Afghanistan shows their crackdown on human rights is ongoing. Taliban's sweeping curbs on women and girls' access to education, employment, public places, salons, and gyms highlight their persecution based on gender. The international community must insist on reversing the institutionalized and systematic repression against millions of Afghans.
The Taliban respects women's rights according to Islamic law and Afghan customs. Bennett misrepresented the ground realities, published biased reports, exaggerated minor issues, and propagated hatred toward the Afghans to undermine the government's credibility on the global stage. The West failed the people of Afghanistan, but it will not be allowed to meddle with the country's internal matters and rattle it again.
