Afghanistan's minority Shi'a are increasingly marginalized under the hard-line rule of the Taliban, a Sunni militant group. The Taliban last week prevented members of the Shi'ite community, which makes up around 15 percent of the population, from marking an important religious festival.
Women in the western Afghan city of Herat say they have been harassed and threatened by members of the Taliban’s notorious morality police for not wearing the hijab, or Islamic head scarf.
The Taliban has suspended the activities of a major Swedish aid group operating in Afghanistan. Afghans fear the move will aggravate an already devastating humanitarian crisis that has pushed millions to the brink of starvation.
The Amnesty International rights group has appealed "urgently" to Pakistan to stop "arbitrarily arresting and harassing" Afghan refugees, many of whom are running from ill-treatment by Taliban militants in their own country.
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