NRF Warns Against Using Germany as a Venue for Extremist Propaganda

The photo, taken in Germany, shows Qaderi alongside Abdul Bari Omar, the Taliban's National Food and Drugs Administration Director, who recently delivered a contentious speech in Cologne, Germany.

Omar, during his visit to an Islamic center in Cologne, lauded the Taliban leadership and government. His speech and presence have sparked significant reactions. The German Foreign Ministry, expressing strong disapproval, is probing Omar's entry into Germany, stating that no visa was issued for him. However, the Taliban's Bakhtar news agency reported Omar's participation in the World Local Production Forum in the Netherlands.

Qaderi, residing in Belgium since 2010 and granted asylum there for two years, regularly endorses Taliban activities on social media, including YouTube. In anticipation of Omar's visit, Qaderi teased "good news and historical events" on a social network while driving in the Netherlands.

In June, Belgian Deputy Minister of Immigration Nicole de Maure called for a reassessment of Qaderi's asylum status, highlighting the contradiction in his support for a regime he allegedly fled. Qaderi, celebrating his actions, posted: 'It is necessary for the Muslim nation to spare their lives and money in this way. Almighty Allah wanted the Muhammadan flag to be officially waved by my hands on the continent of Europe, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.'"

On Friday, the organisation also demanded the release of other women’s rights activists including Manizha Siddiqi, Zhulia Parsi, Nida Parwani, and university professor Rasoul Parsi,

Parisa Azada was arrested on Wednesday by the Taliban intelligence agency in Dashte Barchi area of Kabul.

The Taliban officials have not commented on the motive behind Azada’s detention.

Amnesty International has warned that the continuation of severe Taliban restrictions and crackdown on women's and girls' rights can amount to crimes against humanity and gender persecution.

Amnesty International has once again called for the formation of an independent international mechanism to hold the Taliban accountable.

In the meeting, the Taliban governor said, "The situation of human rights in this province is much better."

Bakhtar News Agency, controlled by the Taliban, on Thursday, reported that Hakim told the UN official that Panjshir is more stable than other provinces of Afghanistan.

He welcomed Potzel's visit to Panjshir and said that in the last two years, the province was "forgotten by foreign institutions and donors.”

The Taliban governor in Panjshir asked the UN official to pay attention and provide aid support in the province.

He claimed that all ethnic groups live in Panjshir harmoniously, emphasising the absence of discrimination within the province.

Panjshir is known as the traditional stronghold of the Taliban’s opposition front. The main base of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the former leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, was in this province. In 2021, Panjshir stood as the last province to come under the control of the Taliban.

Following the collapse of Afghanistan to the Taliban, intense guerrilla battles continued in Panjshir and Andarab region. The Taliban has been accused of massive arbitrary arrests, torture, and killing of the residents of the region.

In June, Amnesty International called the Taliban's "cruel behaviour" against the residents of Panjshir as a "war crime". The organisation said that it was able to document cases of "extra-judicial executions, torture, imprisonment, and arbitrary arrests" of people in this province.

Amnesty International confirmed that the Taliban resorted to mistreatment and torture of civilians amid the resistance forces in Panjshir. According to the organisation, the Taliban "detained the men and youth from the villages and subjected them to beatings and other abuse”.

In the meeting with Potzel, the Taliban’s governor in Panjshir, denied these reports and said that the leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, "has more compassion and mercy for the people of Panjshir than in other provinces and makes exceptions for the residents of the province in all matters”.

UNAMA has not released a statement concerning the meeting. It remains unclear whether the deputy head of UNAMA successfully met the relatives of the victims of the Taliban’s killings and the families of the prisoners during his visit of the province.

Sidorov added that the CSTO is taking measures to restrain the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan.

On Thursday, during a press conference in Moscow, he stated that as of now, there is no military threat from Afghanistan. however, simultaneously it has been acknowledged that the current leadership of Afghanistan still does not fully control the situation in the country.

Sidorov responded to a question about whether Afghanistan is still considered a terrorist threat to CSTO member countries, stating, “Special measures are being taken in the northern areas of Afghanistan, which share borders with the member countries of the CSTO.”

However, he did not provide details about the measures taken by the organisation.

Sidorov also added that the issue of drug trafficking from Afghanistan still exists.

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan are members of the CSTO and have held several joint military exercises near the borders of Afghanistan in the past two years.

He urged the audience to judge the Taliban based on their "achievements," rather than media portrayals. In a video clip released by the Taliban official on social media, Omar's speech, which echoed the Taliban's unified governance under their leader, received support from those present.

The timing of the event is uncertain but coincides with Omar's visit to the Netherlands for the World Local Production Forum.

On 6 November, the Bakhtar News Agency, controlled by the Taliban, reported Omar's participation in the conference in the Hague, Netherlands.

Following his attendance at the Hague forum, Omar is said to have travelled to Germany at the invitation of an Afghan cultural activist.