AFGHANISTAN: Attacks on civil society and human rights defenders intensify
04/03/2021
Paris-Geneva, March 4, 2021 – Over the past five months, the situation of human rights defenders and journalists has deteriorated significantly in Afghanistan, with at least fourteen targeted killings and constant harassment reported. The Observatory (FIDH-OMCT) expresses its utmost concern over this worrying trend and calls on the Afghan authorities to ensure that an end be put to the killings, attacks, and acts of harassment against civil society in the country.
While negotiations have been taking place between the Afghan government and the Taliban since September 12, 2020 in Doha (Qatar) to try to reach a peace agreement, the situation for civil society in the country has been rapidly deteriorating. In a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) published on February 15, 2021, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, M
STATEMENT - THE OBSERVATORY
Paris-Geneva, March 4, 2021 – Over the past five months, the situation of human rights defenders and journalists has deteriorated significantly in Afghanistan, with at least fourteen targeted killings and constant harassment reported. The Observatory (FIDH-OMCT) expresses its utmost concern over this worrying trend and calls on the Afghan authorities to ensure that an end be put to the killings, attacks, and acts of harassment against civil society in the country.
While negotiations have been taking place between the Afghan government and the Taliban since September 12, 2020 in Doha (Qatar) to try to reach a peace agreement, the situation for civil society in the country has been rapidly deteriorating. In a report
Ayjaz Wani
On 20 December, Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal officially opened another border crossing point with Iran to facilitate trade and travel between the two historically-linked countries. The minister also inaugurated an immigration office at the new Gwadar-Ramdhan entry point, about 130 km from the strategic Chabahar port in Iran, being built by India. The crossing is suitably located for bilateral import and export of fruits, construction material, livestock and petroleum products.
The opening of this crossing was finalised during the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Javad Zarifto Pakistan on 12 November. As per the agreement, more border crossing points will be opened in the near future. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the opening of another international border crossing-point underlines the strengthening bilateral ties and increasing economic activities.
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The Taliban denied involvement in most of the attacks, including the one on Rasheed.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the killing and praised Rasheed s work in promoting democratic values and transparency of electoral processes
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Rasheed s assassination was also condemned by the United States, which has been pushing the Taliban and the Afghan government to end a war that has kept western forces in Afghanistan for more than 19 years.
Hailing Rasheed as a tireless advocate for democracy , the US State Department said his voice could not be silenced. The future of Afghanistan cannot be foreclosed by murder but must be resolved at the negotiating table, it said on Twitter.
The Media Line Staff 12/24/2020
The head of an election-monitoring organization in Afghanistan was assassinated in an ambush near his home in the capital, Kabul.
Yousuf Rasheed, executive director of the Free and Fair Elections Forum of Afghanistan Organization (FEFA), was shot and killed in the ambush and his driver injured while driving to the office on Wednesday, according to reports. No group has claimed responsibility. The Taliban denied involvement in the attack.
FEFA was scheduled to hold a news conference on Wednesday to discuss a system it established to monitor peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Reuters reported.