The issue of detentions and disappearances has put a new spotlight on the Taliban’s promises to improve their human rights record under the weight of international sanctions…reports Asian Lite News
Days after their quiet detention, the Taliban freed two western citizens and their two Afghan colleagues on Friday who had been working for the UN after the world body had announced that they had been held by the Taliban for several days in Afghanistan, reported New York Times.
The team members were on an assignment with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and were detained in Kabul in recent days.
The United Nations in its initial statement said, “We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation.”
Hours later, the Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that foreigners were released. However, he did not mention the two Afghans.
Mujahid said that the foreigners were arrested due to correct identification and permit issues.
“Those foreigners who were said to be related to an international entity were arrested because they did not have the correct identification and permits. They are in good health, and after their identities were verified, they were released,” The New York Times quoted Mujahid as saying.
In the late evening on Friday, the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s office in Geneva confirmed the release of both Westerners and their Afghan colleagues.
The issue of detentions and disappearances has put a new spotlight on the Taliban’s promises to improve their human rights record under the weight of international sanctions, according to The New York Times.
UNAMA welcomes move
“UNAMA welcomes the release of the reporters by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities. Time to end all arbitrary detentions. No Afghan or int’l journalist, nor civil society activist, should be picked up & held incommunicado. Time to free all those wrongly incarcerated,” said UN Mission in Afghanistan.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it is relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them.
“We are relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them. We are grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help. We remain committed to the people of Afghanistan,” said UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
Earlier, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights raised concerns over an apparent “pattern of arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as torture and ill-treatment” in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. (ANI)