The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has led to a repressive and exclusionary regime that has dismantled institutions of law, justice, and civil rights with ruthless efficiency. Four years after the collapse of the democratic republic, the Taliban has established a system of repression that has severe consequences for human rights.
The regime’s treatment of women is particularly egregious, with edicts erasing them from public life, banning education beyond primary school, employment, and public spaces, and subjecting them to surveillance and monitoring. Human rights groups have dubbed this “gender apartheid” and are calling for it to be considered an international crime.
The Taliban has also targeted minority ethnic and religious groups, including Hazaras, Shias, Sikhs, and Christians, with severe crackdowns on the local population in provinces like Panjshir. Journalists and activists have been silenced through fear, violence, and arbitrary arrests, leading to widespread self-censorship and an information blackout.
Despite this repression, some regional states are calling for an easing of international isolation, while others continue to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The United States had previously provided over 40% of humanitarian aid to the country but has largely cut off support due to its withdrawal from development efforts.
The international community is facing a dilemma: how to engage with the Taliban without legitimizing its repressive rule. While some countries have taken steps towards holding the Taliban accountable, including issuing arrest warrants and beginning cases against them at the International Court of Justice, more needs to be done to address the human rights crisis in Afghanistan.
Without concerted international pressure, the suffering of the Afghan people will only worsen, and the Taliban’s brand of repression will continue to impact women’s rights beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
Source: https://theconversation.com/after-4-years-of-repressive-taliban-rule-afghans-are-suffering-in-silence-is-the-world-still-watching-262801