The United Nations has confirmed the detention of two Afghan male employees of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Herat, following their reported detention by Taliban intelligence on Sunday, 9 August.
The confirmation was provided by the United Nations office in Kabul to Afghanistan International on Tuesday, following earlier reports that two UNAMA staff members had been taken into custody in Herat.
According to the UN office, it has not yet been informed of the charges or grounds for the detention of the two employees. The United Nations has also stated that its representatives have not been granted access to meet with the detained personnel, raising concerns regarding their welfare and the circumstances surrounding their detention.
The UN has called on the Taliban authorities to respect the privileges and immunities accorded to United Nations personnel, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that UN employees are able to carry out their duties without undue interference or obstruction.
The two detained Afghan nationals were reportedly working with UNAMA’s human rights section, according to information cited by Afghanistan International. Sources cited in the report claimed that the two employees had recently been involved in preparing a report concerning the detention of women in Herat. The sources further alleged that the employees had interviewed several girls who had themselves been detained.
The reported connection between their recent human rights-related work and their subsequent detention has drawn particular attention, although no official explanation or charges have been publicly provided by the Taliban authorities at the time of the UN’s confirmation.
The United Nations has not indicated that the two employees have been formally charged with any offence. The UN’s inability to meet with the two employees remains a central concern. Access to detained UN personnel is important for establishing their condition, ensuring their safety and determining the circumstances under which they have been held.
The United Nations has reiterated its expectation that its personnel and operations in Afghanistan will be afforded the protections, privileges and immunities applicable to UN staff. The latest development comes amid continued international scrutiny of the operating environment for humanitarian, human rights and international organizations in Afghanistan.
The detention of personnel associated with UNAMA’s human rights activities is likely to attract further attention because of the sensitive nature of human rights monitoring in Afghanistan. UNAMA has continued to monitor and report on human rights developments across the country, including issues affecting women and girls. Human rights personnel frequently engage with affected communities, document alleged violations and communicate their findings to relevant stakeholders.
Against this backdrop, the reported detention of two employees involved in human rights work in Herat has heightened concerns about the ability of international personnel and Afghan staff members to carry out such activities safely and independently.
At present, however, the precise reasons for the detentions remain unclear.
The United Nations’ call for respect for the privileges and immunities of its personnel underscores the need for clarity regarding the status of the two detained employees. The UN is expected to continue seeking access to the detainees and further information regarding their circumstances, while urging the relevant authorities to ensure that UN personnel can perform their mandated functions without intimidation, obstruction or arbitrary detention.
No further details regarding the men’s condition, the allegations against them, or the duration of their detention have been publicly confirmed by the United Nations at the time of this report. The development remains under close observation as the UN seeks clarification from Taliban authorities and works to establish direct contact with the two detained employees.
