Human Rights Watch has called for the immediate release of United Nations and non-governmental organisation workers detained by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, warning that the arrests could undermine humanitarian operations in the country.
The rights group said six male employees of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation were detained after being summoned to the organisation’s office in Kabul last month.
The NGO works on humanitarian programmes and advocates for the rights of women and children in Afghanistan.
Human Rights Watch said Taliban security forces had raided the organisation’s Kabul office on June 21, confiscating employees’ personal belongings and shutting down the facility before questioning staff about their activities.
According to the rights group, six male members of the organisation’s leadership were later summoned to the office on July 18, reportedly under the impression that they would be allowed to collect their confiscated belongings.
They were detained after arriving at the office, Human Rights Watch said.
The families of the six men have reportedly received no information about their whereabouts, condition or whether they have been formally charged with any offence.
Separately, two Afghan employees of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan were detained by Taliban intelligence officials in Herat on Sunday.
The United Nations confirmed the detention, saying it had not been informed of any charges against the two employees and had not been granted access to them.
Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was seeking information about the detentions but had yet to receive a final account of what happened.
Human Rights Watch’s Afghanistan researcher, Fereshta Abbasi, warned that the detention of UNAMA personnel could undermine the United Nations’ ability to provide essential humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
UNAMA serves as the UN’s political mission in Afghanistan, while also monitoring human rights and gathering information on developments across the country.
The mission’s activities have previously drawn criticism from Taliban authorities.
The latest detentions have intensified concerns among rights groups and humanitarian organisations over restrictions on civil society and the ability of aid workers to operate freely in Afghanistan.
The arrests come as the Taliban prepares to mark five years since returning to power, while Afghanistan remains heavily dependent on international humanitarian assistance.
Goodness Anunobi
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