Afghans Face Worsening Rights Abuses Under Taliban Rule, Says Rights Group

According to Taliban officials, each of the men and women received 39 lashes in public. In separate statements issued on Tuesday, 29 April, the Taliban’s Supreme Court confirmed the corporal punishment and imprisonment sentences handed down to the accused.

The court stated that a man and a woman in the Sayed Khel district of Parwan were each sentenced to 39 lashes and two years’ imprisonment for what was described as “sexual relations outside of marriage.”

In a separate case, the group reported that local Taliban authorities in Deh Bala district of Nangarhar province administered a similar punishment to another man and woman, also accused of engaging in extramarital relations.

This follows a separate incident on Monday, when the Taliban sentenced a man and a woman in Gosfandi district of Sar-e Pol province to 25 and 29 lashes respectively, along with one to two years’ imprisonment on similar charges.

Despite widespread international condemnation, the Taliban has continued to enforce corporal punishment across Afghanistan since returning to power nearly four years ago. In a recent statement, the group’s Supreme Court also revealed that four individuals were executed in a single day across three different cities.

The outlet is owned by Mohammad Mohaqiq, a prominent former jihadi leader and political figure.

According to the ministry, operations at Rah-e-Farda will remain suspended pending a final court decision. The ministry’s statement alleges that the network’s management failed to pay staff salaries and benefits, prompting multiple complaints to the Media Complaints and Violations Commission.

The commission reportedly summoned Rah-e-Farda’s leadership on several occasions, offering recommendations to resolve the wage dispute. However, the ministry claims the network’s officials ignored the complaints and, in some cases, allegedly threatened staff members.

As a result, the case has been referred to the judiciary. “In accordance with media laws and regulations, the network’s activities have been suspended until a court verdict is issued,” the ministry said in its statement.

Founded in 2007, Rah-e-Farda is among several private Afghan media outlets affiliated with former government officials and political factions. The network has historically covered activities related to the People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, as well as meetings and public appearances by Mohammad Mohaqiq. It has also been known for its critical reporting on the Taliban.

This is not the first time Rah-e-Farda has faced pressure under Taliban rule. In 2022, the network was reportedly shut down over unpaid frequency taxes and outstanding debts, though it later resumed broadcasting.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, dozens of private media outlets across Afghanistan have been forced to shut down due to escalating restrictions, financial pressures, and threats against journalists. The crackdown has led many media professionals to flee the country, contributing to a sharp decline in press freedom.

Speaking at the international conference titled “Afghanistan: Regional Connectivity, Security, and Development” held in Baku, Naghiyev emphasised the necessity for the international community to intensify efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking in Afghanistan.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Azerbaijani State Security Service, the conference was hosted by the Service and brought together representatives from the intelligence and security agencies of 20 countries.

During his address, Naghiyev stressed that the global community must provide Afghanistan with comprehensive support to tackle transnational organised crime, including international terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal migration.

Citing a report from AzerNews, Naghiyev also underlined Afghanistan's critical role within the international system and the pressing need to achieve lasting peace in the country. He expressed confidence that regional states would engage in coordinated and joint efforts towards this objective.

Representatives from other nations reportedly described the conference as a valuable platform to take concrete steps toward ensuring peace and security in Afghanistan.

It remains unclear whether any Taliban officials were present at the conference. As of now, the group has not issued an official statement regarding the event.

According to Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the ministry, Afghanistan exported goods worth $627 million to India, while imports from India totalled $263 million. Jawad shared the figures in a video message published on the social media platform X on Tuesday.

Key Afghan exports to India included dried figs, saffron, raisins, cumin, and almonds, he said. Over the same period, Afghanistan imported sugar, raw materials for industrial companies, cotton textiles, vehicle parts, machinery, and various other goods from India.

Previously, Khan Jan Alokozay, a member of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, had stated that Afghan exports to India were valued at $500 million last year, indicating a significant rise in trade activity.

According to India’s Ministry of Commerce, there have been notable shifts in trade patterns with Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. India’s imports from Afghanistan have increased, while its exports to the country have declined.

This development comes amid ongoing regional tensions that led to the closure of the Wagah-Attari border crossing—a key trade route between Afghanistan and India. The disruption of Afghan exports via Pakistan has reportedly caused the price of dried fruits in Indian markets to surge by up to 20 percent.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the council confirmed that the visit aims to strengthen dialogue on the challenges faced by Afghan migrants in Iran and across the wider region. Mohaqiq, leader of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, is heading the delegation.

Other prominent members of the delegation include Almas Zahid, Head of the Council’s Peace Committee; Khwaja Mahbub Siddiqi, representative of the Jamiat-e-Islami Party; Abdullah Qarluq, Deputy Leader of the National Islamic Movement Party; and Habib-ur-Rahman Sayyaf, representative of the Islamic Dawah Organisation of Afghanistan.

The council expressed its gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its long-standing support and hospitality towards Afghan refugees. It also voiced optimism that the discussions would lead to enhanced cooperation and the adoption of practical measures to improve conditions for displaced Afghans.