UN Condemns Taliban Decree Expanding Punishments and Restricting Freedoms in Afghanistan

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned a recent Taliban decree in Afghanistan that expands the use of corporal punishment, including within homes, and increases the number of offenses punishable by death. The decree also criminalizes criticism of the Taliban leadership, restricting freedom of expression. Turk described these measures as systemic persecution and gender-based oppression, urging the Taliban to rescind the decree and halt executions. The Taliban considers women's rights a local issue and has not publicly released the decree's full text.