Catalan Parliament Voices Concern Over Hazaras Situation In Afghanistan

In the letter, dated May 4, Lotfullah Khpalwak, head of personnel affairs at the Taliban Foreign Ministry, wrote to the ministry’s finance and administrative department that, by order of the Taliban prime minister, the post had been cut from the 1405 Solar Hijri year (March 21, 2026-March 21, 2027) structure.

Since returning to power, the Taliban have gradually removed many institutions related to women from the state structure.

The conversion of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs into the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is one of the clearest examples of this policy.

At the same time, women have been barred from working in many government offices and non-governmental organisations, while girls have been denied education beyond sixth grade and access to universities. These measures have restricted women’s presence in public life and drawn strong criticism from the international community.

The findings were presented on Thursday, April 30, at the launch of a joint study by the network and the University of Toronto titled Women’s Access to Justice in Afghanistan in Toronto.

At the event, attended by legal experts, civil society activists, academics, diplomats and journalists, organisers said the research aimed to highlight women’s access to justice in Afghanistan and draw international attention to structural barriers.

The report found that Afghanistan’s formal justice system has undergone fundamental changes under Taliban rule.

According to the data, 81% of respondents said the justice system has changed completely or to a large extent, while 91% believed the removal of female legal professionals has had a serious negative impact on judicial outcomes.

Zarqa Yaftali, founder of the network, said formal justice mechanisms under the Taliban have been significantly weakened and replaced by systems that are neither fair nor effective, and which have expanded impunity, particularly in cases of violence against women.

According to the network’s statement, Professor Edward Schatz of the University of Toronto said the university remains committed to highlighting Afghanistan in academic and policy forums and expanding cooperation with Afghan institutions.

Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur, stressed that international accountability and sustained pressure to improve human rights, particularly women’s rights, are essential.

Fawzia Koofi, former Afghan MP, said the absence of fair trials and the rise in arbitrary detentions are contributing to growing insecurity and instability in society.

The meeting concluded with calls for coordinated and sustained international action and support for civil society, particularly women-led organisations.

The Taliban Ministry of Justice announced on Tuesday that the “Law on Preachers” has been issued in the official gazette after being endorsed by Akhundzada. The law consists of two chapters and 17 articles.

Under Article 6, a preacher must adhere to the Hanafi school of thought. Article 10 also states that preaching must be conducted on the basis of Hanafi jurisprudence.

Article 14 stipulates that if any preacher does not follow the Hanafi school, they must be prevented from carrying out their activities.

According to Article 9, preachers may spread their message through speech and media such as radio, magazines and books, but the use of media containing “live images” is prohibited.

The law also states that preachers must refrain from taking minors and women with them during their religious outreach. Teaching prayer, promoting the “virtue of jihad”, explaining women’s rights and instructing on women’s dress are among the responsibilities outlined in the law.

Over the past four years, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on social and religious life in Afghanistan, particularly affecting civil liberties, women’s rights, education and the conduct of religious practices.

In religious matters, the Taliban have repeatedly stressed the enforcement of rulings based on Hanafi jurisprudence. This has raised concerns among followers of other sects, especially Shia Muslims, about restrictions on religious freedom.

During this period, the Taliban have also continued to enforce rules and restrictions on citizens through the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 22, the court said the punishment was carried out in Khash district after approval by the high authority of the Supreme Court. Both individuals were also sentenced to one year of enforced imprisonment.

Findings by Afghanistan International show that since late-March, the Taliban have flogged at least 149 people across the country on various charges.

Despite opposition from international organisations to torture and corporal punishment, the Taliban have continued to carry out public floggings.

Human rights groups say the Taliban’s judicial system lacks due process, with defendants denied basic fair trial rights, including access to legal representation.

In a new report, Human Rights Watch said the crackdown intensified following border tensions with the Taliban. Fereshta Abbasi urged Pakistan to halt forced returns and act against abusive police behaviour.

The report says thousands of vulnerable Afghans, including children, face barriers to healthcare, education and essential services.

Abbasi said Pakistani authorities are creating fear among Afghan refugees, many of whom face harsh and degrading treatment by police.

The organisation said police have arrested Afghans even when they hold valid visas and noted that Pakistan has halted extensions of PoR cards and other residency documents since 2023.

According to the report, more than 146,000 Afghans have been deported from Pakistan in 2026 alone.

Based on interviews with Afghan migrants, the report says Pakistani police detain Afghans during daily activities such as shopping, attending school or seeking work, often confiscating phones and cash.

It also alleges that police demand bribes for release, which many cannot afford.

Human Rights Watch said many deportees are journalists, activists and human rights defenders who could face serious risks if returned to Afghanistan.

Citing Reporters Without Borders, the report said at least nine Afghan journalists, including some with valid visas, have been forcibly returned since the start of 2026.

The organisation warned that forced deportations may violate Pakistan’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face serious harm.

It called for an immediate halt to deportations and urged other countries to raise concerns with Pakistan and condemn ongoing human rights violations by the Taliban.