The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) says Taliban forces routinely use violence, particularly in day-to-day security operations, and that the practice has been codified in the group's penal system.
It says torture has become routine in Taliban operations and detention centres.
The organisation published its Global Torture Index 2026 on Thursday.
The report states that torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are not prohibited in Afghanistan but have instead been effectively legalised and are actively practised.
It says Taliban morality police arbitrarily detain citizens while monitoring the behaviour and dress of both women and men.
The report also highlights sweeping restrictions on family rights, including laws governing separation between husbands and wives.
Judicial System and Victims’ Rights
The Global Torture Index 2026 says Afghanistan’s independent judicial system has effectively collapsed and that there are no functioning accountability mechanisms for human rights violations.
It also notes that victims of torture often refrain from filing complaints for fear of retaliation, while access to legal representation for political detainees has become severely restricted.
The report adds that Afghanistan has no legal definition of a victim of torture and provides no protection or support mechanisms for such individuals.
Repression of Women, Minorities and Civil Liberties
According to the OMCT report, the Taliban has failed to establish effective protection mechanisms for women, children and other vulnerable groups. Instead, it says the group has pursued policies of discrimination and repression by excluding women from public life, restricting freedom of movement and violating fundamental rights.
The report states that LGBTQ+ identity has been criminalised in Afghanistan and is subject to severe punishment.
The organisation also says ethnic and religious minorities, including Hazaras, Ismailis, Sikhs, Hindus and Shia Muslims, face discrimination, targeted persecution and forced displacement, while civic space in Afghanistan has been drastically curtailed.
According to the report, human rights defenders and civil society activists have either been forced underground or driven into exile, and any criticism of Taliban leaders may result in prosecution or punishment.
The Global Torture Index also refers to the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s request on January 23, 2025, for arrest warrants against Taliban leaders, describing it as a vital step towards delivering justice and ending impunity in Afghanistan.
