Iran Executes Six Afghan Nationals In April Amid Surge In Death Sentences

In a statement issued on Saturday, the court confirmed that the flogging was carried out in the presence of local officials, court staff, security personnel, and members of the public.

Over the past three months, at least 213 individuals including 169 men and 44 women have reportedly been subjected to flogging by the Taliban authorities.

On Thursday, a group of United Nations human rights experts issued a statement calling on the Taliban to immediately cease all forms of inhuman punishment in Afghanistan, including public executions and floggings.

The Taliban have defended such practices as part of the enforcement of “Islamic Sharia,” and have urged international organisations to refrain from interfering in what they describe as domestic judicial matters.

In a statement issued on Saturday to mark World Press Freedom Day, the human rights organisation stated that the Taliban have placed Afghanistan among the world’s worst countries in terms of press freedom.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, numerous media outlets have been forced to suspend operations for criticising the group’s policies, according to Amnesty. The organisation reported that the banning of political television programmes, restrictions on analysts and journalists working with exiled media, the arbitrary detention of journalists, and the silencing of independent voices have all contributed to Afghanistan’s plummeting ranking in global press freedom indices.

Amnesty also criticised the Taliban’s enforcement of the so-called vice and virtue laws, including a ban on broadcasting images of “living beings,” which has severely curtailed media production and freedom of expression.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, and several international organisations echoed these concerns, condemning the Taliban’s repression of media workers. UNAMA reported that journalists and media professionals face threats, arbitrary detention, and torture, warning that such restrictions combined with the country’s deepening economic crisis are depriving the Afghan public of access to critical information.

According to the commission, 2405 individuals were expelled from Pakistan, while 1208 were deported from Iran.

Of those returned, 1150 people were subsequently relocated to various provinces, including Ghazni, Baghlan, Takhar, Kunduz, Balkh, Jowzjan, Logar, Paktia, and Paktika.

The Taliban further stated that these migrants collectively received 4,511000 Afghanis in humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported that approximately 145,000 Afghan migrants were deported from Pakistan throughout April. The IFRC described the condition of many returnees as dire, highlighting growing concerns over their wellbeing and resettlement.

Female journalists are particularly affected, according to a UNAMA statement released on World Press Freedom Day.

Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, emphasised the critical role of media in fostering an informed and dynamic society. “In Afghanistan, we are seeing the steady erosion of a free and independent media,” she said, underscoring that a robust media environment is vital for transparency, public trust, and good governance.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, echoed these concerns in a statement on Saturday. He described freedom of expression as essential for upholding all human rights and urged the Taliban to release all detained journalists immediately.

UNAMA also highlighted emerging challenges posed by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). Patricia McPhillips, UNESCO’s representative in Afghanistan, warned that AI could be misused to spread misinformation, promote hate speech, and enhance censorship and surveillance of journalists and the public, posing significant risks to freedom of expression.

The announcement was made during a meeting in Ashgabat between representatives of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and a delegation of Afghan doctors from a hospital in Herat.

Turkmen media reported that the discussions focused on deepening partnerships in the pharmaceutical industry and medical technologies. The Afghan delegation specifically requested the supply of high-quality, affordable Turkmen medicines to address healthcare needs in Afghanistan.

The Turkmen side provided insights into the operations of its pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing companies, highlighting their capacity to meet international demand.

In a related humanitarian effort, Turkmenistan sent three female doctors to Afghanistan in May 2023 to work at the Torghundi maternity hospital in Herat, providing essential medical services to Afghan women. The initiative was documented by Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Afghanistan continues to face significant challenges in healthcare, particularly for women and children, under Taliban rule. The Taliban’s restrictions, including bans on girls and women attending schools, universities, and medical training institutions, have exacerbated the crisis.

Afghanistan currently has the highest maternal mortality rate globally, prompting repeated appeals from the Taliban for international support to bolster the country’s healthcare system.