At the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1996), Mr. Aboul-Nasr commented that "describing such a chaotic situation as the one in Afghanistan as a situation of political instability was quite far from the truth. In fact, Afghanistan was in a state of war and had no Government to speak of" (p. 18). For twenty years, Afghanistan has been in a state of civil war and instability. Both the ultra-conservative Islamic movement known as the Taliban, which controls approximately 90% of the country and the United Front for Afghanistan (a.k.a. the Northern Alliance) committed numerous serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, "disappearances," torture, arbitrary arrest, detention or exile, and numerous women's rights violations (U.S. Department of State [DOS], "Introduction," 1999). In addition to the above offenses, freedoms of press and religion, and the rights to assemble and travel were all inhibited. No country-wide recognized constitution, rule of law, or independent judiciary existed, and two separate -- and highly inflated -- currencies are in use (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999).
As the Taliban and United
front continued to battle, many civilians became casualties of war. Throughout
the year, both parties launched rocket attacks on cities; In September of
1999, Taloqan (the capital of the northern Takhan province) was bombed by
Taliban planes, while earlier in the year Commander Ahmad Shah Massood ordered
United Front forces to send rockets into the Taliban-controlled Kabul, both
attacks killing hundreds of civilians (Human Rights Watch [HRW], "Afghanistan,"
1999).
On April 21, 1999, the Hizb-i Wahdat faction of the United Front took control
of Bamiyan city, and, according to reports by relief workers, beat and detained
those suspected of supporting the Taliban, and burned their houses (HRW,
"Afghanistan," 1999). When the Taliban regained control of the city on May
9, Hizb-i Wahdat forces (particularly ethnic Shi'a Hazaras) were systematically
executed or deported (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999). The United Nations reported
in August of 1999 that Talibans used a "scorched earth" policy throughout
the summer, which entailed the burning of houses, killing of livestock, and
destruction of irrigation systems.
Bombs rigged in vehicles were common throughout the country. On August 25,
when a truck bomb exploded in Kandahar near the home of Mullah Omar, seven
people, including civilians and three of Omar's bodyguards, were killed;
on November 13, a bomb was detonated in Taliban official Abdul Hai Mutmain's
car (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1997).
Because of strict security enforcement in Taliban-controlled areas, there was a decrease of abductions, kidnapping, and hostage-taking for ransom. However, it has been alleged that Taliban-maintained private prisons exist, and the soldiers are blamed for some disappearances in areas under their control. The Taliban have also been associated with disappearances of women from Hazara neighborhoods, most of which are still missing and suspected dead, though no bodies have been found (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999). Since 1998 General Abdul Rahman, General Farooq, Moulvi Shabuddin, Waliullah Dagarwal, General Syed Agha Rayees, Engineer Nabi Shah, and Wolaswal Ismail have all "disappeared" (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999). Disappearances were also reported in non-Taliban areas, but little information has been given. Russia has reported over 300 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan to be missing in action or prisoners of war.
Torture and Other Forms of Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Enforcing its laws according
to a strict interpretation of the Islamic Sharia, the Taliban held weekly
public executions, amputations, and floggings in Kabul Stadium. Several men
who were accused of sodomy were crushed by walls pushed on them by a tank
(HRW, "Afghanistan," 1999).
Poor prison conditions reigned throughout the country. In many cases, it
is the responsibility of family members to supply inmates with food;
consequently, those prisoners with no family rely on other inmates for meals.
Prisons are overcrowded and unsanitary, and prisoners are usually held in
collective cells . Prisons managed by both the Taliban and United Front are
reported to have "torture cells" within (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999).
Arbitrary Arrest and Detention
According to Amnesty International, 200 local community leaders who supported peace efforts had been arrested in southern and eastern Afghanistan since between early 1998 and early 1999 (qtd. in DOS, "Afghanistan," 1997). While allegations against detainees hinted at plans for a coup or other activities against the Taliban, the arrests were aimed at opposition figures such as tribal elders, people associated with prior regimes, and members of various parties and groups (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999). Both the Taliban and United Front are suspected to have over 1,000 prisoners of war, and the United Front is reported to have several hundred Pakistanis in detention DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999).
Women's Rights
Women's rights abuses are
extremely bad in Afghanistan. Sehar Saba and Sajeda Hayat, joint-leaders
of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) are forced
to live in Pakistan and travel incognito to distribute literature supporting
women's rights in Afghanistan. Sehar describes the situation in Afghanistan
in an interview (2000) as "a big prison, for women especially. Women are
banned from all outside public activities. They can't go to school or work.
They can't even go to a doctor without accompaniment by one of their male
relatives" (Amnesty Now, p. 14).
Women are stoned in public for violating Taliban dress
codes, wearing make-up, laughing too loud in public, playing any sport, or
watching television (Samath, 2000). Rapes, kidnappings, and forced marriages
are common particularly in areas outside of Taliban control (DOS, "Afghanistan,"
1999). In Afghanistan homes where a woman is present, the windows are painted
so that outsiders can never see her (Samath, 2000). Strict dress codes force
women to wear burqa's, which cover their body entirely.
Violations of Basic Freedoms
No human rights
organizations exist in Afghanistan, due to extremely difficult registration
processes (HRW, "Afghanistan," 1999). Several non-governmental agencies are
based in Pakistan, however, and are able to document abuses in the state.
There is no freedom of the press. Journalists are intimidated
by officials of warring factions into publishing certain material. The Taliban
ban the import of foreign newspapers and many foreign books. The Voice of
Shariot, the Taliban radio station, broadcasts only religious programming
and Taliban pronouncements. In 1999, foreign journalists were prohibited
from filming or taking pictures of people or animals and were not allowed
to interview women. At all times, a Taliban escorted them, and the Taliban
also appointed interpreters and drivers (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999).
Both the Taliban and United Front promote Islam as a
state religion. Approximately 85% of the population are Sunni Muslims, and
the remainder consists mostly of Shi'a Muslims. Most Hazara's are S'hia Muslims,
and it has been reported that Taliban officials have "cleaned" Shi'a mosques
and converted them to Sunni. Mandatory prayer times have been established,
and those not in attendance are beaten (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999).
In september of 1999, the Taliban issued new decrees forbidding non-Muslims
from building any place of worship. In addition, non-Muslims are banned from
criticising Muslims and must identify their homes by placing a yellow cloth
on the roof. Non-Muslims are not allowed to live with Muslims, and non-Muslim
women must wear a yellow dress with a special mark so that Muslims will know
to keep their distance (HRW, "Afghanistan," 1999).
258,600 people are internally displaced and 2.6 million people of the 25.8
million person population live outside of the country as refugees, the largest
number of refugees in the world (DOS, "Afghanistan," 1999; HRW, "Afghanistan,"
1999).
The International Community
In April of 1999, the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights passed a resolution condemning human rights
violations by all Afghanistan parties, particularly citing mass killings
and continuations of abuses of women's rights, specifically condemning the
Taliban for women and girls' rights violations . Secretary-General Kofi Anan
criticized the parties within the country and urged them to stop their "senseless
self-destruction" (HRW, "Afghanistan," 1999).
U.S. relations with Afghanistan are strained due to Taliban harboring of
terrorist Osama bin Laden. In July, 1999, economic sanctions were imposed
upon Afghanistan, including the freezing of $500,000 in assets to the only
airline operating in Afghanistan, to prevent the illegal exportation of goods
(HRW, "Afghanistan," 1999).
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