Taliban Appoints Military Attaché in Iran

According to the organisation’s report, the execution of the Afghan national was carried out on Saturday morning, August 24.

On Monday, August 26, the human rights organisation stated that the 30-year-old Afghan, originally from Mahmood Raqi in Kapisa province, was arrested about three years ago on charges of premeditated murder and was sentenced to qisas (retribution in kind).

Till now, Iranian domestic media and official sources, including the judiciary and prison authorities, have not confirmed the execution of this prisoner.

The Iran Human Rights group stated, "The lack of classification for premeditated murder in Iran means that any type of murder, regardless of severity or the defendant's motive, can result in a death sentence."

On Sunday, the organisation also issued a statement reporting that two Afghan citizens had been transferred to solitary confinement in Tabriz Central Prison in preparation for their executions.

Recently, Iran Human Rights released a report indicating that in the first seven months of this year, at least 300 people, including 20 Afghan citizens, have been executed in the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The decree further requires that spokespersons from the group's ministries and departments obtain approval before "publishing content”.

The decree, which was made public by the Taliban-controlled state news agency Bakhtar on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, outlines that spokespersons are "obliged to communicate the activities and achievements of the Islamic Emirate and other pertinent information to the media in accordance with established policy”.

This directive from the Taliban leadership significantly curtails access to information and increases governmental oversight. It suggests tighter control over the flow of information, further limiting the public's right to access accurate and timely data.

The decree also stipulates that if the Taliban's position on any issue remains unclear, spokespersons must refrain from making any comments. Instead, they are instructed to only release statements that have been officially issued by the group's "high authority”.

Moreover, the decree specifies that the responsibilities of spokespersons for ministries and other government departments are restricted to their respective domains. These spokespersons are required to secure permission from their respective ministries or departments before releasing any public statements or content.

Speaking in Sar-e-Pul province, Hanafi described the newly signed "Law for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" as a demand from "the people of Afghanistan" and urged the international community to avoid "undue criticism”.

According to reports from Taliban-controlled National Radio and Television, Hanafi emphasised that the propagation of virtue is a "divine decree" and asserted that the Taliban government has an obligation to uphold these principles. He further stated that the establishment of the Taliban regime was intended to "implement the rituals of Islam”.

On Monday, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency quoted Hanafi as affirming that the newly enacted law is rooted in Islamic provisions. He also warned that anyone opposing the law will be held accountable.

The Taliban recently announced that their leader ratified the "Law for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," which has introduced various restrictions on women in both public and private life. Human rights activists have condemned the new law, labelling it as a continuation of the Taliban's efforts to suppress and marginalise women from public life.

The organisation stated on Sunday that Afghan women are bearing the brunt of the reduced aid in Afghanistan.

Last month, WFP reported that in 2024, it had supported at least 1.6 million pregnant and breastfeeding women by distributing nutritious food.

According to a June report from the World Health Organisation, every day, 24 mothers and 167 children across Afghanistan lose their lives due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related illnesses.

The World Food Programme has previously described Afghanistan as the worst country in the world for women.

During her visit, Otunbayeva met Mohammad Sadiq Inqilabi, the Taliban's Deputy Governor of Kandahar.

The visit focused on discussions regarding the cultivation of alternative crops to poppies, a key issue in the region known for its reliance on poppy production.

Otunbayeva reiterated the UN's commitment to assisting farmers in transitioning to alternative crops, a move seen as essential for both economic and social stability in the area.

During the meeting, Otunbayeva highlighted the UN's humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, noting that over the past year, the organisation has provided aid to 26 million people across the country through various agencies.

In response, Inqilabi called for further UN support in addressing the issue of drug addiction and promoting alternative livelihoods. He also claimed that Afghanistan enjoys "absolute security" under Taliban rule and urged Otunbayeva to encourage international investors to consider opportunities in the country.

The visit comes just days after Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada ratified the group's Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The law has raised concerns among international observers, with UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) expressing worry that the legislation could further curtail rights and perpetuate a climate of fear.

On Saturday, August 24, UNAMA urged the Taliban to clarify specific provisions of the law, warning that continued restrictions on rights would complicate efforts by the international community to engage constructively with the Taliban regime.