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The Star
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Star
Taliban investigating death threats against United Nations' Afghan female staff, report says
FILE PHOTO: The United Nations opening its office in the northern Sar-i-Pul province of Afghanistan in May 2009. Dozens of female Afghan staff were subjected to explicit death threats in May. - United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD: The Taliban are investigating explicit death threats against dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations, according to a report published Sunday (Aug 10). In its latest update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, the UN mission to the country said that dozens of female national staff were subjected to explicit death threats in May. The threats come against a backdrop of severe restrictions placed on women since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The UN report said the threats came from unidentified individuals related to their work with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, other agencies, funds, and programmes, "requiring the UN to implement interim measures to protect their safety." It said that the Taliban told the UN mission that their personnel were not responsible for the threats. An Interior Ministry investigation is underway, the report added. The Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, said no such threats had been made. "This is completely incorrect,' Qani said. "The ministry has an independent department for this, and we have a strategic plan for protection and security so there is no threat to them in any area, nor can anyone threaten them, nor is there any threat to them." Qani did not answer questions about an investigation. The Taliban barred Afghan women from working at domestic and foreign nongovernmental organisations in December 2022, extending this ban to the UN six months later, and then threatening to shut down agencies and groups still employing women. Some women have nonetheless stayed on in key sectors, such as health care and urgent humanitarian assistance, where aid agencies say the needs are great. Humanitarian agencies say the Taliban have hampered or interfered with their operations, allegations denied by authorities. The UN report is the first official confirmation of death threats against Afghan women working in the sector. The report also highlighted other areas affecting women's personal freedoms and safety. In Herat, inspectors from the Vice and Virtue Ministry began requiring women to wear a chador, a full-body cloak covering the head. Dozens of women deemed "not in compliance' were barred from entering markets or using public transportation. Several women were detained until relatives brought them a chador, the report said. In Uruzgan, women were arrested for wearing a hijab - a headscarf - rather than a burqa covering the entire body and face. Women have also been denied access to public areas, in line with laws banning them from such spaces. In Ghor province, police forced several families to leave a recreational area. They warned the families against visiting outdoor picnic sites with women. In Herat, Vice and Virtue inspectors stopped family groups with women and girls from accessing an open recreational area, only allowing all-male groups. Nobody from the Vice and Virtue Ministry was immediately available to comment on the Ghor, Herat and Uruzgan incidents, which the U.N. said happened in May. In Kandahar, the Public Health Department instructed female health care workers to be accompanied to work by male guardians with an identification card proving that they were related to the woman by blood or marriage. It wasn't immediately clear if the card is specific to Kandahar or will be rolled out across Afghanistan. "The process to apply for a mahram (male guardian) identification card is reportedly cumbersome and can take up to several weeks as it requires the de facto Department for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and a member of the local community (e.g. malik, imam or village elder) to verify the relationship,' the UN report said. - AP
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
UN report reveals death threats to Afghan women amid Taliban rights crackdown
Kabul [Afghanistan], August 11 (ANI): Dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan have received explicit death threats, according to a new UN report, highlighting the severe restrictions on their rights since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Al Jazeera UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said female national staff were subjected to direct death threats in May, as per the latest update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan published on report noted that the Taliban informed the UN mission that their cadres were not responsible for the threats, and that an Interior Ministry investigation is the Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, denied the allegations. 'This is completely incorrect," Qani told The Associated Press news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera.'The ministry has an independent department for this, and we have a strategic plan for protection and security so there is no threat to them in any area, nor can anyone threaten them, nor is there any threat to them," he added. Qani did not respond to questions about the investigation, Al Jazeera threats originated from unidentified individuals connected to their work with UNAMA, other agencies, funds, and programmes, 'requiring the U.N. to implement interim measures to protect their safety," according to the UN report cited by Al Taliban banned Afghan women from working in domestic and foreign nongovernmental organisations in December 2022, extending this ban to the UN six months later. They also threatened to close agencies and groups still employing women. Aid agencies and NGOs have reported disruptions and interference in their operations, which the Taliban authorities UN report is the first official confirmation of death threats against Afghan women working in the sector. It also highlighted other violations of women's freedoms and safety, including inspectors from the Vice and Virtue Ministry enforcing the wearing of a chador, a full-body cloak covering the head. Women have been arrested for only wearing the have also been denied access to public spaces, in line with laws banning their presence in such areas, Al Jazeera August 2024 UN report found that Afghanistan's Taliban government has 'deliberately deprived" at least 1.4 million girls of their right to education during its three years in power. About 300,000 more girls have missed school since UNESCO last conducted a count in April 2023, the report warned, adding that 'the future of an entire generation is now in jeopardy."In July, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two top Taliban leaders over abuses against women and judges said there were 'reasonable grounds" to suspect Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhunzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani of gender-based persecution.'While the Taliban have imposed certain rules and prohibitions on the population as a whole, they have specifically targeted girls and women by reason of their gender, depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms," the ICC said in a Taliban has 'severely deprived" girls and women of rights to education, privacy, family life, and freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience, and religion, the ICC judges Taliban rejected the ICC warrants as 'baseless rhetoric," stating it does not recognise the ICC's authority and highlighting the court's failure to protect the 'hundreds of women and children being killed daily" in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Taliban Investigating Death Threats against United Nations' Afghan Female Staff, Report Says
SLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban are investigating explicit death threats against dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations, according to a report published Sunday. In its latest update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, the U.N. mission to the country said that dozens of female national staff were subjected to explicit death threats in May. The threats come against a backdrop of severe restrictions placed on women since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The U.N. report said the threats came from unidentified individuals related to their work with the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, other agencies, funds, and programs, 'requiring the U.N. to implement interim measures to protect their safety.' It said that the Taliban told the U.N. mission that their personnel were not responsible for the threats. An Interior Ministry investigation is underway, the report added. The Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, said no such threats had been made. 'This is completely incorrect,' Qani said. 'The ministry has an independent department for this, and we have a strategic plan for protection and security so there is no threat to them in any area, nor can anyone threaten them, nor is there any threat to them.' Qani did not answer questions about an investigation. The Taliban barred Afghan women from working at domestic and foreign nongovernmental organizations in December 2022, extending this ban to the U.N. six months later, and then threatening to shut down agencies and groups still employing women. Some women have nonetheless stayed on in key sectors, such as health care and urgent humanitarian assistance, where aid agencies say the needs are great. Humanitarian agencies say the Taliban have hampered or interfered with their operations, allegations denied by authorities. The U.N. report is the first official confirmation of death threats against Afghan women working in the sector. The report also highlighted other areas affecting women's personal freedoms and safety. In Herat, inspectors from the Vice and Virtue Ministry began requiring women to wear a chador, a full-body cloak covering the head. Dozens of women deemed 'not in compliance' were barred from entering markets or using public transportation. Several women were detained until relatives brought them a chador, the report said. In Uruzgan, women were arrested for wearing a hijab — a headscarf — rather than a burqa covering the entire body and face. Women have also been denied access to public areas, in line with laws banning them from such spaces. In Ghor province, police forced several families to leave a recreational area. They warned the families against visiting outdoor picnic sites with women. In Herat, Vice and Virtue inspectors stopped family groups with women and girls from accessing an open recreational area, only allowing all-male groups. Nobody from the Vice and Virtue Ministry was immediately available to comment on the Ghor, Herat and Uruzgan incidents, which the U.N. said happened in May. In Kandahar, the Public Health Department instructed female health care workers to be accompanied to work by male guardians with an identification card proving that they were related to the woman by blood or marriage. It wasn't immediately clear if the card is specific to Kandahar or will be rolled out across Afghanistan.
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Taliban investigating death threats against United Nations' Afghan female staff, report says
The Taliban are investigating explicit death threats against dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations, according to a report published on Sunday (August 10, 2025). In its latest update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, the U.N. mission to the country said that dozens of female national staff were subjected to explicit death threats in May. The threats come against a backdrop of severe restrictions placed on women since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The U.N. report said the threats came from unidentified individuals related to their work with the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, other agencies, funds, and programs, 'requiring the U.N. to implement interim measures to protect their safety.' It said that the Taliban told the U.N. mission that their personnel were not responsible for the threats. An Interior Ministry investigation is underway, the report added. The Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, said no such threats had been made. 'This is completely incorrect,' Mr. Qani said. 'The ministry has an independent department for this, and we have a strategic plan for protection and security so there is no threat to them in any area, nor can anyone threaten them, nor is there any threat to them,' he said. Mr. Qani did not answer questions about an investigation. The Taliban barred Afghan women from working at domestic and foreign non-governmental organisations in December 2022, extending this ban to the U.N. six months later, and then threatening to shut down agencies and groups still employing women. Some women have nonetheless stayed on in key sectors, such as health care and urgent humanitarian assistance, where aid agencies say the needs are great. Humanitarian agencies say the Taliban have hampered or interfered with their operations, allegations denied by authorities. The U.N. report is the first official confirmation of death threats against Afghan women working in the sector. The report also highlighted other areas affecting women's personal freedoms and safety. In Herat, inspectors from the Vice and Virtue Ministry began requiring women to wear a chador, a full-body cloak covering the head. Dozens of women deemed 'not in compliance' were barred from entering markets or using public transportation. Several women were detained until relatives brought them a chador, the report said. In Uruzgan, women were arrested for wearing a hijab — a headscarf — rather than a burqa covering the entire body and face. Women have also been denied access to public areas, in line with laws banning them from such spaces. In Ghor province, police forced several families to leave a recreational area. They warned the families against visiting outdoor picnic sites with women. In Herat, Vice and Virtue inspectors stopped family groups with women and girls from accessing an open recreational area, only allowing all-male groups. Nobody from the Vice and Virtue Ministry was immediately available to comment on the Ghor, Herat and Uruzgan incidents, which the U.N. said happened in May. In Kandahar, the Public Health Department instructed female health care workers to be accompanied to work by male guardians with an identification card proving that they were related to the woman by blood or marriage. It wasn't immediately clear if the card is specific to Kandahar or will be rolled out across Afghanistan. 'The process to apply for a mahram (male guardian) identification card is reportedly cumbersome and can take up to several weeks as it requires the de facto Department for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and a member of the local community (e.g. malik, imam or village elder) to verify the relationship,' the U.N. report said.
Perth Now
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Taliban probes death threats against UN female staff
The Taliban are investigating explicit death threats against dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations, according to a report. In its latest update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, the UN mission to the country said that dozens of female national staff were subjected to explicit death threats in May. The threats come against a backdrop of severe restrictions placed on women since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The UN report published on Sunday said the threats came from unidentified individuals related to their work with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, other agencies, funds, and programs, "requiring the UN to implement interim measures to protect their safety." It said that the Taliban told the UN mission that their personnel were not responsible for the threats. An Interior Ministry investigation is underway, the report added. The Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, said no such threats had been made. "This is completely incorrect," Qani said. "The ministry has an independent department for this, and we have a strategic plan for protection and security so there is no threat to them in any area, nor can anyone threaten them, nor is there any threat to them." Qani did not answer questions about an investigation. The Taliban barred Afghan women from working at domestic and foreign non-governmental organisations in December 2022, extending this ban to the UN six months later, and then threatening to shut down agencies and groups still employing women. Some women have nonetheless stayed on in key sectors, such as health care and urgent humanitarian assistance, where aid agencies say the needs are great. Humanitarian agencies say the Taliban have hampered or interfered with their operations, allegations denied by authorities. The UN report is the first official confirmation of death threats against Afghan women working in the sector. The report also highlighted other areas affecting women's personal freedoms and safety. In Herat, inspectors from the Vice and Virtue Ministry began requiring women to wear a chador, a full-body cloak covering the head. Dozens of women deemed "not in compliance" were barred from entering markets or using public transportation. Several women were detained until relatives brought them a chador, the report said. In Uruzgan, women were arrested for wearing a hijab - a headscarf - rather than a burqa covering the entire body and face. Women have also been denied access to public areas, in line with laws banning them from such spaces. In Ghor province, police forced several families to leave a recreational area. They warned the families against visiting outdoor picnic sites with women. In Herat, Vice and Virtue inspectors stopped family groups with women and girls from accessing an open recreational area, only allowing all-male groups. Nobody from the Vice and Virtue Ministry was immediately available to comment on the Ghor, Herat and Uruzgan incidents, which the UN said happened in May. In Kandahar, the Public Health Department instructed female health care workers to be accompanied to work by male guardians with an identification card proving that they were related to the woman by blood or marriage. It wasn't immediately clear if the card is specific to Kandahar or will be rolled out across Afghanistan. "The process to apply for a mahram (male guardian) identification card is reportedly cumbersome and can take up to several weeks as it requires the de facto Department for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and a member of the local community (e.g. malik, imam or village elder) to verify the relationship," the UN report said.
