UN Report: Afghan Women, Girls Returning From Abroad Face Severe Risks

Speaking before the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Bennett said that since seizing power, the Taliban have suspended the Afghan constitution and repealed all laws that previously protected the rights of women and girls. He noted that all judges from the former government, including 270 women, have been removed from their positions.

In their place, he added, the Taliban have appointed men with no legal training or judicial experience, who issue rulings based solely on the group’s strict interpretation of religion. The Taliban now exercise full control over law enforcement and all investigative bodies.

Bennett’s latest report, focused on access to justice and the protection of women and girls, is based on online interviews with more than 110 Afghans both inside and outside the country. He said the Taliban did not respond to requests for comment or provide information regarding efforts to uphold justice or protect women’s rights.

Although the Taliban claim to enforce justice based on “Islamic Sharia,” religious scholars and legal experts argue that their interpretation is not recognised in any other Muslim country and is incompatible with core Islamic principles.

The report states: “Today, there are no women judges or prosecutors and no officially registered female lawyers, leaving women and girls with fewer safe channels to report abuse or seek redress.”

Bennett also highlighted the Taliban’s policy requiring women to be accompanied by a male guardian when accessing institutions. He said this rule creates significant obstacles to filing complaints or appearing in court, particularly for widows, female heads of households, displaced women, and those with disabilities.

Women who do engage with the Taliban’s justice system, whether to file legal complaints, seek family documents, or respond to charges, often face hostility, and their cases are frequently dismissed, the report said.

As a result, many Afghan women are turning to traditional and informal justice systems such as jirgas (tribal councils), community elders, or local religious figures. These systems, however, are overwhelmingly male-dominated and often perpetuate gender bias.

Bennett urged the international community to support efforts to refer Afghanistan to the International Court of Justice for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

According to Teymour Ali Asgari, Deputy Governor for Culture, Social Affairs and Pilgrimage, an estimated 150,000 Afghan nationals are currently waiting to travel to Iraq to take part in the ceremonies, which mark the 40th day of mourning after Ashura.

Asgari stated that many of the pilgrims are entering Iran using their own chartered buses and are continuing their journey to Iraq via designated transit routes.

Last year, approximately 50,000 Afghan pilgrims travelled from Afghanistan, while an additional 25,000 Afghan nationals residing in Iran particularly in the city of Mashhad also made the pilgrimage to Iraq. This year’s figures represent a threefold increase compared to 2024.

Iranian authorities, including the Ministry of Intelligence and consular offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in both Afghanistan and Iraq, are reportedly coordinating efforts to manage the growing number of pilgrims and ensure smooth transit through Iranian territory.

Asgari also noted that last year, some Afghan pilgrims remained in Iraq after Arbaeen or temporarily stayed in Iran upon returning. He said that this trend is expected to grow in the current year.

Each year, tens of thousands of Afghan pilgrims travel to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala to participate in Arbaeen rituals, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

In a statement issued Thursday, the court said the group’s drug control court in Kabul had sentenced seven individuals for trafficking and selling alcohol, hashish. The defendants received between 10 and 39 lashes, along with prison sentences ranging from one to three years.

In a separate announcement, the court reported that seven others including one woman were punished in the Shah Joy district of Zabul province for offences including theft, “illicit sexual relations,” and same-sex relations. Each was publicly flogged with between 20 and 30 lashes.

The punishments were carried out by local Taliban court officials in the presence of residents, military personnel, and court authorities.

Just one day earlier, the Taliban had publicly flogged 10 individuals in Kabul and Maidan Wardak provinces on charges related to theft and drug offences.

Despite repeated condemnation from international human rights organisations, which classify corporal punishment as torture and a violation of international law, the Taliban continue to carry out public floggings. The group maintains that such punishments are in accordance with “Islamic Sharia law.”

According to reports from The Hindu and Hindustan Times, Doval is likely to raise concerns over Moscow’s decision last month to formally recognise the Taliban administration, the first country to do so. The Indian government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

Doval’s visit, which Russian state news agency TASS confirmed began on Tuesday, comes amid a period of deepening ties between Russia and the Taliban, as well as increasing engagement between India and the group in recent months.

Indian media also report that Doval will discuss a broad range of strategic and economic issues with Russian officials. These include continued oil purchases from Russia, rising regional tensions, and ongoing defence and security cooperation.

The visit is also expected to include talks on a potential visit to India by Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly later this year.

Although Doval’s visit was reportedly scheduled in advance, it coincides with heightened diplomatic tensions between India and the United States. On Wednesday, the White House announced that US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, bringing the total US tariff rate on Indian imports to 50 percent.

The move is widely viewed as retaliation for India’s continued imports of Russian oil, despite Western pressure to scale back economic ties with Moscow.

Speaking during a meeting with the head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kabul on Wednesday, Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi said the group is capable of managing the influx of returnees.

According to a statement issued by the Taliban, IOM Director General António Vitorino reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting returnees through education and employment initiatives. He also said the IOM is prepared to help address their humanitarian needs.

Hanafi acknowledged the mounting challenges but said the Taliban administration is working to provide job opportunities and basic services for those returning. He also urged host countries and international organisations to honour their obligations to Afghan migrants and step up support.

The meeting came a day after Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, held talks with the IOM’s chief of mission in Afghanistan. Kabir warned of the harsh conditions returnees may face during the approaching winter and appealed for urgent international assistance, particularly in providing shelter.

However, humanitarian agencies and rights groups have repeatedly criticised the Taliban for failing to adequately protect and support returnees. Critics argue the root causes of mass migration, including widespread unemployment, political repression, and severe restrictions on women’s rights, remain unresolved, making safe and voluntary return unfeasible.

Human Rights Watch has described Afghanistan as facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The situation has been exacerbated by the suspension of most international aid and the forced return of over 1.9 million migrants from Iran and Pakistan since the beginning of the year, according to recent UN data.