Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur, described the Taliban's decision to prevent his travel to Afghanistan as a "step backward" for the group and warned that this action sends a concerning message about the Taliban's interaction with the United Nations and the international community.
Tarz Press: On Wednesday, August 21, Bennett released an official statement, stating that he has consistently provided transparent assessments of the human rights situation in Afghanistan. He added that in the case of disagreements, dialogue and negotiation can serve as constructive responses. Bennett emphasized in his statement, "I urge the Taliban to reverse their decision and reiterate my willingness and availability to travel to Afghanistan."
This comes after Zabihullah Mujahid announced yesterday that Richard Bennett would no longer be permitted to travel to Afghanistan due to what he described as "inaccurate" reports about the country. Bennett has repeatedly criticized the human rights situation under Taliban rule, particularly their violations of the human and civil rights of the Afghan people, especially women.
