Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, criticised Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, for his reports on severe human rights violations in the country.
Mujahid stated that Bennett is no longer allowed to enter Afghanistan.
Mujahid accused Bennett of spreading "propaganda" against the Taliban and claimed that he exaggerated minor issues and provided incorrect information to other organisations.
He added, "Bennett has been banned from coming to Afghanistan. He was assigned to spread propaganda against Afghanistan. He is not someone we believe in."
In several of his reports to the UN Human Rights Council, Bennett has accused the Taliban of widespread human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including violence against women, civil society members, the media, former military personnel, and ethnic and religious minorities.
In his most recent report, Bennett described the violations of women's rights as "gender apartheid," citing human rights activists. He also called for the prosecution of Taliban officials involved in human rights violations at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
This week, the Taliban spokesperson, in an interview with Deutsche Welle, accused international organisations, including UNAMA, of engaging in "propaganda against Afghanistan”. He claimed that these organisations overlook the positive aspects of the Taliban regime and only report on its weaknesses, alleging that they have been "hired for propaganda”.
When asked why the Taliban have not fulfilled their initial commitment to include all groups in Afghanistan's political system, Mujahid stated, "Figures who have been tested in the past and faced public hatred will never return to the regime." He explained that the Taliban are avoiding "public hatred" by excluding politicians and officials of the previous government from their regime.
Mujahid also argued that the cabinet of any government is inherently political, saying that in the West, the winning party takes all leadership positions in the government. He rejected elections and the idea of the people choosing the country's leader, asserting that the Taliban are deserving of leading Afghanistan and representing its people. He stated, "Those who fought and sacrificed for 20 years are better suited to manage the ideals of jihad and the struggle of the Afghan people."
In Western countries, elections allow different parties to govern for a period, with new political figures assuming leadership roles when a new government comes to power. However, the Taliban have rejected elections, effectively ruling out any possibility of a change in government.
Afghan political groups in exile since the fall of the previous government have warned against the Taliban's monopolisation of power. Despite this, the Taliban have dismissed these groups' requests, as well as calls from powerful foreign countries, to form an inclusive government.
