he United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has, in its latest quarterly human rights report, documented mass arrests of ethnic Uzbeks and widespread abuses across the country.
The findings detail intensified restrictions on women, threats to returning Afghans, public executions, and growing pressure on the media and civil society activists.
According to UNAMA, over the past three months the Taliban has increased its social, political, and economic restrictions on the Afghan population, with women bearing the brunt of these measures.
Taliban Kill Protesters Opposing Poppy Field Destruction in Badakhshan
The UN mission confirmed that in July, at least 10 people were killed when Taliban forces opened fire on protesters opposing the destruction of opium poppy fields in Badakhshan province. The report also stated that dozens more were injured in the shootings.
On 25 May, Taliban forces in Jurm district fired on demonstrators, killing one man and injuring six others. On 30 June, at least eight men were killed and 22 others including a girl were injured in further gunfire on protesters.
A day after the latter incident, Taliban forces reportedly attacked the funeral of those killed, shooting dead at least one man and wounding 12 others.
The clashes in Khash district in July followed the deployment of Taliban units to destroy poppy fields in the area. The Taliban-appointed governor of Badakhshan, Mohammad Ayoub Khalid, admitted to civilian casualties, describing them to the BBC as the result of “accidental firing” by Taliban forces. He also confirmed that special forces had been sent to suppress the protests.
Mass Arrests of Uzbeks in Faryab Province
The UN report confirmed that in June, the Taliban arrested at least 165 Uzbek residents of Faryab province following clashes between local Pashtun and Uzbek communities.
The violence began when “a group of Pashtun youths threw firecrackers at a gathering of Uzbek girls”, prompting a confrontation between Pashtun youths and a group of Uzbek men at the scene.
The Taliban arrested two Pashtun boys in connection with the incident, but detained 87 Uzbeks immediately after the clashes. Later, Taliban police and intelligence officers arrested another 30 Uzbek men who had tried to prevent further arrests.
On the same day, residents of an Uzbek-populated village in Faryab staged a protest and attacked Taliban police posts. UNAMA reported that between 8 and 10 June, the Taliban detained 48 more Uzbeks believed to have participated in the demonstrations. Some detainees were children.
All those arrested in connection with the Faryab incidents were later released.
Local sources earlier told Afghanistan International that the arrests followed a confrontation during the Eid holidays in Dawlatabad district over harassment of girls. Residents subsequently protested outside the Taliban police headquarters, chanting “Long live Dostum.”
Tightening Restrictions on Women
UNAMA reported that women and girls remain barred from education beyond grade six, from taking the Kankor university entrance exam, and from entering universities. No signs have emerged that these policies will be reversed.
Strict enforcement of the mandatory hijab continues, with requirements for “full-length clothing” in Herat and full face coverings in some provinces. Women deemed non-compliant by local officials have been barred from markets, public transport, and service centres, and in some cases detained.
In Uruzgan province, UNAMA documented cases where women were detained for wearing a form of hijab other than the burqa. The Taliban’s requirement for a male guardian (mahram) has effectively curtailed women’s freedom of movement restricting travel over 78 kilometres, visits to medical facilities, and even attendance at workplaces without a male escort.
Some women detained for dress code violations were only released when relatives brought them the required clothing.
In Kandahar, female health workers may only work if their male guardians are issued special identity cards approved by local elders. UNAMA also recorded cases in which Taliban officials refused to provide services to unaccompanied women.
Women are also banned from numerous public spaces, including parks, sports venues, and public baths. Families have, in some cases, been forced to leave recreational areas so that only all-male groups could remain. In some rural areas, the ban on girls’ education has been informally extended to levels below grade six.
Threats to Returning Afghans
The report highlights the risks faced by Afghans forcibly returned from host countries, warning they may face arrest, abuse, and lack of safe shelter.
Despite the Taliban’s announcement of a general amnesty for former members of the security and defence forces and ex-government employees, returnees from these groups still face threats. The same applies to those who worked for international organisations and human rights groups. Some have left the country again due to safety concerns.
Public Executions and Corporal Punishment
UNAMA recorded public executions in April in Badghis, Nimruz, and Farah provinces. Those convicted of murder were shot often by victims’ relatives in sports stadiums before hundreds of spectators.
Since August 2021, six other public executions have been carried out. The Taliban’s Supreme Court confirmed these were conducted after final court rulings and approval by the group’s leader. Taliban spokesmen have defended executions as part of “Sharia law.”
The report also said public flogging remains in use, with 185 men and 48 women punished in public during the reporting period.
Media Restrictions Intensify
UNAMA reported that many private media outlets, under both political pressure and financial strain, have either shut down or laid off half their staff.
In several provinces, broadcasting images of living beings has been banned, political programmes suspended, and analysts required to obtain permission from the Ministry of Information and Culture before appearing in the media.
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue has expanded social media monitoring, arresting users in Baghlan, Balkh, Kunduz, and Zabul for allegedly posting “inappropriate” content.
Journalists and media workers have faced short-term detentions, threats, and intimidation, with some outlets having licences revoked or being closed altogether.
On 19 June, the Taliban leader approved a law regulating gatherings of poets, citing the need to “protect Islamic principles and culture.” On 29 June, the Ministry of Information and Culture issued new rules requiring special permits for publishing political content, which must be vetted before release.
Arrests and Pressure on Civil Society Activists
In the reporting period, 655 people, 650 men and five women, were detained by the Taliban, many without formal charges or due process. Civil society activists and human rights defenders have been threatened, intimidated, or arrested, with some of their family members also targeted.
Women’s rights activists in several provinces have been forced to flee their homes.
Torture, Ill-Treatment, and Judicial Interference
UNAMA documented cases of torture and ill-treatment in Taliban detention centres, including beatings, deprivation of food, and death threats. In some cases, detainees were denied access to legal counsel, trials were conducted behind closed doors, punishments were imposed before court rulings, and Taliban officials directly interfered in judicial proceedings.
UNAMA publishes a detailed human rights report every three months, documenting violations of fundamental freedoms, restrictions on the media and civil society, and the security and humanitarian situation of vulnerable groups in Afghanistan.
