Taliban Urges Afghan Refugees In Pakistan Not To Attend Political Rallies

Oct 14, 2024, 11:53 GMT+1

The Taliban called on Afghans living in Pakistan to refrain from attending political demonstrations and gatherings.

The Taliban representative accused some Afghans living in Pakistan of not respecting the principle of neutrality with "false feelings”.

The Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation wrote in a statement on Sunday, October 13, that the Taliban's deputy chief of refugee affairs in Islamabad made the announcement during a meeting with a number of Afghans living in Pakistan.

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Afghan Refugees Beaten in Turkish Deportation Centres

Oct 14, 2024, 10:46 GMT+1

According to reports by Politico, Der Spiegel, and several other media outlets, Afghan and Syrian refugees have been subjected to abuse and mistreatment in Turkish deportation centres.

These centres were constructed with financial assistance from the European Union, but European officials have allegedly ignored the conditions within them.

The findings indicate that Türkiye, using resources and equipment provided by the EU, has deported hundreds of thousands of Afghan and Syrian refugees.

According to these reports, at least €213 million of EU funds were spent on the construction and refurbishment of 30 deportation centres in Türkiye. Refugees in these centres face overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, abuse, and torture.

Afghan and Syrian refugees are often coerced through violence and force into signing documents for their “voluntary” return.

These refugees have reported being beaten and held in cold rooms for up to 12 hours in the deportation centres. They claim that Turkish authorities ignored their basic rights.

The investigations also revealed that these refugees find it extremely difficult to contact a lawyer or family members.

Despite extensive evidence of human rights violations in Turkish deportation centres, senior EU officials have repeatedly overlooked the issue.

Taliban Bans Filming, Photography In Takhar, Say Local Sources

Oct 14, 2024, 08:49 GMT+1

Local sources in Takhar said that Taliban officials, during a meeting with journalists and local media officials, issued an order to completely ban photography and video reporting in the province.

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.

2,000 Women Employed as Police in Taliban’s Interior Ministry

Oct 13, 2024, 17:44 GMT+1

Suhail Shaheen, head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, has announced that approximately 2,000 women are currently employed within the group’s Ministry of Interior.

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.

Switzerland Deports Two Afghan Migrants Designated as “Criminals”

Oct 13, 2024, 14:54 GMT+1

Swiss media have reported that Switzerland has deported two Afghan migrants described as “criminals.”

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.

Taliban Flog Eight People, Including a Woman, in Public in Kunar

Oct 13, 2024, 14:17 GMT+1

The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that the criminal court in Kunar province publicly flogged eight individuals on charges of same-sex relations, theft, and running away from home.

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.

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Afghan Refugees Beaten in Turkish Deportation Centres

Oct 14, 2024, 10:46 GMT+1

According to reports by Politico, Der Spiegel, and several other media outlets, Afghan and Syrian refugees have been subjected to abuse and mistreatment in Turkish deportation centres.

These centres were constructed with financial assistance from the European Union, but European officials have allegedly ignored the conditions within them.

The findings indicate that Türkiye, using resources and equipment provided by the EU, has deported hundreds of thousands of Afghan and Syrian refugees.

Afghan and Syrian refugees are often coerced through violence and force into signing documents for their “voluntary” return.

These refugees have reported being beaten and held in cold rooms for up to 12 hours in the deportation centres. They claim that Turkish authorities ignored their basic rights.

The investigations also revealed that these refugees find it extremely difficult to contact a lawyer or family members.

Despite extensive evidence of human rights violations in Turkish deportation centres, senior EU officials have repeatedly overlooked the issue.

Taliban Bans Filming, Photography In Takhar, Say Local Sources

Oct 14, 2024, 08:49 GMT+1

Local sources in Takhar said that Taliban officials, during a meeting with journalists and local media officials, issued an order to completely ban photography and video reporting in the province.

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.

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

2,000 Women Employed as Police in Taliban’s Interior Ministry

Oct 13, 2024, 17:44 GMT+1

Suhail Shaheen, head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, has announced that approximately 2,000 women are currently employed within the group’s Ministry of Interior.

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

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.

Switzerland Deports Two Afghan Migrants Designated as “Criminals”

Oct 13, 2024, 14:54 GMT+1

Swiss media have reported that Switzerland has deported two Afghan migrants described as “criminals.”

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.

Taliban Flog Eight People, Including a Woman, in Public in Kunar

Oct 13, 2024, 14:17 GMT+1

The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that the criminal court in Kunar province publicly flogged eight individuals on charges of same-sex relations, theft, and running away from home.

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

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.

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