Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban banned a senior representative of the United Nations Human Rights Council from entering the country on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Islamist administration, Zabihullah Mujahid, told TOLOnews that Richard Bennett, the U.N.’s special rapporteur for the Central Asian nation, was prohibited entry because he “was assigned to spread propaganda.”
Bennett, who has served in his position since 2022, called the decision “a step backwards and sends a concerning signal about their engagement with the United Nations and the international community on human rights,” while asking that the finding be reversed.
Last week, Bennett joined several other U.N. functionaries in condemning the third anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power by releasing a statement that accused the theocratic regime of violating its citizen’s personal freedoms, especially in its repressive treatment of women.
Since reestablishing governance, the Taliban has barred girls over the age of 12 from attending school and required women to wear face veils when not in their homes while prohibiting them from many public places and social activities.
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