The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has accused the Taliban of killing civilians, persecuting ethnic Uzbeks, and intensifying repression across the country.
In its latest quarterly report, UNAMA detailed that in Badakhshan province at least 10 civilians were shot dead in July when Taliban forces opened fire on protesters opposing the destruction of poppy fields. Similar violence in May and June left more dead and dozens injured, including at a funeral attacked by Taliban gunmen.
In Faryab province, Taliban units arrested 165 ethnic Uzbeks — some of them children — after clashes sparked by the harassment of Uzbek girls by Pashtun youths. Many were detained without charges before eventual release.
The report says women remain Afghanistan’s most oppressed group, banned from education beyond grade six, universities, and many workplaces without a male guardian. Dress code enforcement has led to harassment, detention, and denial of basic services.
Returnees from abroad face arrest and intimidation despite promises of amnesty. Public executions and floggings have continued, with dozens punished before large crowds.
Media freedom has been crushed, with outlets shut down, journalists detained, and censorship imposed on political content. Civil society activists and human rights defenders face threats, arbitrary detention, and torture.
UNAMA warns that the Taliban’s escalating brutality is eroding fundamental rights, silencing dissent, and targeting vulnerable groups nationwide.
