Afghan Refugees Beaten in Turkish Deportation Centres

They emphasised that visual media should be converted into radio stations.
This action is taking place within the framework of the implementation of the Taliban's new law for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice, which has been implemented recently. According to this law, photography and filming of living creatures is forbidden.

The meeting was held on Sunday, October 13, in the presence of intelligence and morality officials at the office of the Taliban's director of information and culture in Takhar, sources said.

According to sources, some representatives of the visual media said in response to the order that they needed to produce and broadcast their programmes in visual form, but the Taliban insisted on converting television content to radio or stopping their activities altogether.

Barkatullah Barakat, press affairs manager at the Taliban's intelligence department, warned at the meeting that anyone who disobeyed the order would be dealt with. He emphasised that they will use all means to implement the decree of the Taliban leader.

Also, the Taliban has announced that they will soon publish advertisements in the city of Taloqan and Takhar districts, and people are asked not to use smartphones.
The Taliban has warned that violators will be dealt with harshly.

About two weeks ago, the Taliban also informed journalists and visual media personnel in Takhar that filming and photography were no longer allowed.

The Taliban has previously stopped the broadcast of some local television stations, including in Kandahar, and required media outlets to broadcast audio instead of images. Earlier, women's voices were stopped in Kandahar and some southern provinces.

He further noted that the number of women in the ministry could increase in the future if necessary.

Since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban have prohibited women from working in most government offices and private sectors. Women are now restricted to limited roles in the police force, education, and healthcare sectors.

The ban on women’s employment and education has drawn widespread criticism from countries, political groups, and civil society organisations both within Afghanistan and internationally.

The Taliban claim that the conditions for women’s employment and education are not yet conducive. However, critics argue that the group has enforced these restrictions for religious and political reasons.

This marks the first time since 2019 that Switzerland has deported Afghan nationals. Authorities labelled the individuals as “serious criminals” and a “threat to the country’s internal security.”

According to the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA, each deportee was provided with 500 Swiss francs (approximately 583 USD) by the Swiss government to assist them in starting a new life after their deportation.

Details regarding the identities of the two deported migrants have not yet been disclosed by Swiss media.

Vincenzo Mascioli, Deputy Director of the Swiss Migration Office, stated that Switzerland plans to deport more [criminal] migrants in the near future.

A Swiss German-language weekly, which first reported the deportations, noted that at least 13 other Afghan refugees designated as “serious criminals” remain in Switzerland.

Last month, Germany undertook a similar action, deporting 28 Afghan migrants identified as “criminals” to Kabul.

According to the court, the accused received between 10 and 39 lashes in front of a public audience.

On Sunday, 13th October, the Taliban’s Supreme Court revealed that the criminal division of the primary court in Kunar had sentenced the accused to prison terms ranging from 16 days to three years. The court also stated that the punishment was carried out in the presence of court staff and visitors at the primary court in Kunar city.

Despite widespread condemnation from international human rights organisations, which decry corporal punishment as a violation of human dignity, and repeated calls for its cessation, the Taliban continue to enforce such punishments and use torture on suspects across Afghanistan.

International organisations have also emphasised that Taliban courts do not follow the principles of fair trial, often denying the accused access to legal representation and due process rights.

According to the report, 30.4% of Afghanistan’s population is malnourished, and 5.8% of children die before reaching the age of five. Additionally, the report highlights that 44.6% of children under the age of five in Afghanistan suffer from stunted growth, a reflection of chronic malnutrition. Furthermore, 3.6% of children have a lower-than-expected weight for their height, signifying acute malnutrition.

The Global Hunger Index also noted that 5.8% of Afghan children die before the age of five due to inadequate nutrition and poor living conditions. The hunger situation in Afghanistan, under Taliban control, alongside 35 other countries, was assessed as “serious.”

In last year’s index, Afghanistan ranked 114th with a score of 30.6. However, with this year’s ranking at 116th, the hunger level in the country has worsened. Under Taliban rule, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has escalated over the past three years. According to the United Nations, more than 24 million people currently require humanitarian assistance.

The 2024 Global Hunger Index categorised hunger levels in 51 countries as “low,” 37 countries as “moderate,” 36 countries as “serious,” and 6 countries as “alarming.” On a global scale, hunger was rated as “moderate” with a score of 18.3. This marks a slight increase compared to eight years ago when the global hunger score was 18.8, reflecting a modest rise in hunger levels worldwide.

The report also highlighted that achieving the United Nations’ “Sustainable Development Goals” to eliminate global hunger by 2030 is becoming increasingly challenging. Since 2016, progress in reducing global hunger has been minimal.

In this year’s rankings, Belarus recorded the lowest hunger level globally, with a score of less than 5. Burundi and South Sudan, with scores between 35 and 49.9, are classified as experiencing “alarming” levels of hunger.

The Global Hunger Index is prepared by European non-governmental organisations, and the results are published annually in October.