Executions in Afghanistan

THE UN human rights chief said yesterday she had received credible reports of serious violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, including “summary executions” of civilians and Afghan security forces who had surrendered.

Michelle Bachelet gave no details of the killings in her speech to the Human Rights Council, but urged the Geneva forum to set up a mechanism to monitor Taliban actions.

The Taliban treatment of women and girls would be “a fundamental red line”, she told the council’s emergency session, held at the request of Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC). Afghanistan’s diverse ethnic and religious minorities were also at risk of violence and repression, she said, citing reports of killings and targeted attacks in recent months, and Nasir Ahmad Andisha, a senior Afghan diplomat from the deposed government, called for accountability for Taliban actions.

Independent UN rights experts said many were in hiding as “the Taliban continues to search homes door-todoor”, and seizures of property and reprisals were being reported.