Flogging of 4 Members of LGBTQ+ Community by Taliban Condemned by Rainbow Afghanistan

Rainbow Afghanistan said that the UN and countries "involved in the Afghanistan disaster" are ignoring the plight of the country's LGBTQ+ community.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the organisation expressed concern over the situation of the community in Afghanistan and their punishment by the Taliban.

On Monday, the Taliban flogged four people in the Sayed Khel district of Parwan province on charges of having a sexual relationship.

Rainbow Afghanistan in Germany emphasised in the statement that members of their community have faced increasing risks and threats under the Taliban rule over the past three years.

The statement reads, "We witness the punishment of LGBTQ+ individuals in public by the Taliban every day, and unfortunately, the UN, its mission in Afghanistan, and the countries involved in the Afghanistan disaster pay little attention to the dire situation of LGBTQ+ individuals in Afghanistan."

They also expressed concern about the lack of guarantees for LGBTQ+ rights at the third Doha meeting.

This organisation, which supports gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, stresses that the UN, by ignoring the demands of Afghanistan's LGBTQ community, has contributed to the "repetition of a dark history”.

Rainbow Afghanistan stated, "The UN has always surrendered to the demands of anti-LGBTQ+ religious groups and extremists, including the Taliban."

Homosexuality is illegal in Afghanistan and Islam. Since the Taliban's return to power, dozens of individuals across the country have been punished on charges of having sexual relations.

Discussions Regarding Lifting Sanctions Against Taliban Underway, Says Russian Official

Jul 2, 2024, 11:11 GMT+1

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, on Monday hinted at the possibility of lifting Russia's sanctions against the Taliban.

He mentioned that although there is no precise timeline for removing the Taliban from the sanctions list, he has "heard discussions about it”.

Representatives of the Taliban and special envoys from 25 countries and five international organisations participated in the third Doha meeting on Sunday.

At this meeting, the Taliban called for the lifting of sanctions and for countries to assist Afghanistan's private sector and combat drug trafficking.

Like many other countries, including the United States and the European Union, Russia has maintained sanctions against the Taliban. Despite its close relations with the Taliban, Moscow has not removed the group from its list of terrorist organisations, though it has promised to consider doing so.

According to Agence France-Presse, Nebenzya stated that he cannot provide a definitive answer on how close they are to lift sanctions against Taliban, but mentioned that he has heard discussions about it.

He reiterated the statements of senior Russian officials that the Taliban are the main power in Afghanistan and control the country.

Earlier, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the state news agency TASS that the removal of the Taliban from Russia's list of terrorist organisations is under review.

Since take over of power in August 2021, the Taliban has not been recognised by any government.

Russia has not recognised the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan but has defended their positions in international meetings, including at the Security Council.

Taliban In Uruzgan Call On Public To Attend Flogging Of 18 Individuals

Jul 2, 2024, 10:16 GMT+1

The Taliban governor's office in Uruzgan has announced that 18 individuals will be publicly flogged at the stadium of the province capital, Tarinkot.

According to the office's statement, these individuals have been accused of committing various crimes.

The office has called on the public to attend the scene to witness the punishment of these individuals.

The governor's office in Uruzgan added that these individuals, with the coordination of the group's Supreme Court, will be flogged in public on Tuesday afternoon at the Tarinkot stadium.

In a note posted on X social media platform, the governor's office emphasised that bringing any kind of phone or camera to the flogging site is "strictly prohibited”.

The Taliban has made public and corporal punishments, including flogging, a regular practice, while human rights organisations have repeatedly objected to such punishments.

Recently, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, criticised this treatment of the accused and stated that the Taliban has recently intensified the enforcement of Sharia laws.

Taliban Orders New Restrictions on Journalists’ Attire in Kandahar

Jul 2, 2024, 09:28 GMT+1

Abdulhai Omari, the provincial director of the Propagation of Virtue in Kandahar, has mandated that journalists and media workers grow beards and wear turbans.

Omari has described the media and journalists as "sources of moral corruption" and stressed on the need for their reformation.

Sources in Kandahar informed the Pashto section of Afghanistan International that during a meeting with several media workers, Omari reiterated the enforcement of Sharia law.

Omari repeatedly and firmly instructed media officials that "broadcasting women's voices is completely forbidden and should not be aired in any programme”.

On Monday, the heads of the Taliban's Department of Information and Culture, along with representatives of their intelligence agency, held a meeting with journalists and media officials in Kandahar.

During this meeting, journalists from Kandahar complained about mistreatment and demanded timely access to information, cooperation from the Taliban's security agencies in preparing reports, and other issues.

However, three days earlier, the Taliban's police command in Kandahar raided media offices without notifying media officials and took some journalists to their headquarters.

It has been reported that these journalists were released after being detained for a few hours. The reason for their detention by the Taliban remains unknown.

Taliban intelligence has instructed journalists in many provinces to avoid reporting critical and negative topics related to the group, warning that failure to comply will result in serious consequences.

Previously, the Afghanistan Journalists Centre reported that the Taliban have threatened or imprisoned media outlets and journalists who ignored their orders.

According to the centre, from May 2023 to May 2024, at least 136 cases of violations against media freedom and journalists have been recorded.

OIC Calls For Constructive Engagement With Taliban For Solving Challenges

Jul 1, 2024, 16:33 GMT+1

Tariq Ali Bakheet, the representative of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General at the Doha meeting, called for constructive and ongoing engagement with the Taliban to address Afghanistan's issues.

Bakheet said that the organisation continues its constructive dialogue with the Taliban on women's education and employment and combating terrorism.

According to a press release published by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Bakheet emphasised in his speech on the necessity of a coordinated and integrated strategic approach to address the multiple challenges facing Afghanistan and its people.

He stated that achieving this goal is possible through continuous and constructive interaction with the current rulers of Afghanistan.

The third Doha meeting for Afghanistan was held on Sunday and Monday in the capital of Qatar.

The exclusion of discussion about women's suppression and rights from the third Doha meeting has sparked widespread protests both inside Afghanistan and among Afghan citizens abroad.

Many civil activists, political figures, and Afghan citizens have called for a boycott of this meeting. Meanwhile, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also described the absence of representatives of Afghan women, religious and ethnic minorities, and human rights activists in the main Doha meeting as "disappointing”.

The ministry stated that without the meaningful and equal participation of Afghan women in the Doha meeting, none of the goals of this meeting will be achieved.

Taliban Announces Conditions For Continuing Cooperation With Doha Process

Jul 1, 2024, 13:50 GMT+1

Zabihullah Mujahid, head of the Taliban delegation, urged participants of the third Doha meeting to release Afghanistan's Central Bank reserves and lift financial and banking sanctions on the group.

Mujahid emphasised that for the Doha process to be "meaningful," an alternative to poppy cultivation should be financially supported.

He also called for the formation of a working group among participants of the Doha meeting to achieve these objectives.

On Monday, the Taliban released an audio file of Mujahid's speech, the head of their delegation at the third Doha meeting.

In his address, Mujahid detailed the group's proposals and conditions for making the Doha process "meaningful”. He stressed that accepting these proposals would help "build confidence" between the Taliban and other participants in Doha.

Meanwhile, Zakir Jalali, an official from the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, stated on the X social media platform that progress on these demands would impact the group's ongoing cooperation with the Doha process.

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