By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL (TURKISH JOURNAL) – On Tuesday, the Taliban announced they were “not allowing the evacuation of Afghans anymore,” while also on Tuesday, Michelle Bachelet, UN human rights chief spoke at an emergency session of the Human Rights Council and said she received credible reports about the Taliban carrying out “summary executions” of civilians. Bachelet urged the Council to create a system to closely monitor the Taliban’s actions. Later on Tuesday, the Geneva Forum agreed on a resolution The human rights head will report back to the Council at its September-October session on Afghanistan and on any violations the Taliban commit. A full written report will be out in March 2022. Bachelet stressed that Taliban treatment of women and girls would be “a fundamental red line.” In a press conference on Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that foreign nationals could continue traveling to the airport, but said the huge crowds of Afghans gathered at the airport should return home and will not face consequences.
Meanwhile, the emergency meeting was held by request from Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) while Pakistan’s Ambassador Khalil Hashmi stated the resolution sounded the alarm about reports of violations and sent a “message of solidarity to the people of Afghanistan.” Representing the EU, Austria’s ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger said it would join the consensus despite the resolution falling short. She said the EU wants to begin an international investigation into the matter. A senior Afghan diplomat from the fallen government reiterated that the Taliban must be held accountable and described an “uncertain and dire” situation with millions fearing for their lives. The diplomat, Nasir Amad Andisha said: “Monitoring is essential to prevent further atrocities and ensure accountability.” In a joint statement, independent UN human rights experts said multitudes of people are in hiding as “the Taliban continue to search homes door-to-door.” There were reports of property being seized and revenge killings. The Council statement said: “The acts of the Taliban over the course of these months and to date, may amount to war crimes and cries against humanity.”
Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said:”The UN Human Rights Council special session has failed to deliver a credible response to the escalating human rights crisis in Afghanistan. The organization investigated the massacre of nine ethnic Hazara men in Ghazni province last month and said it was “proof that the Taliban’s capacity for murder and torture has not diminished.”
