By Farangis Najibullah, Firuza Azizi and Sahar Lewal Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 20, 2026 Every morning, Faisal stands along a road on the outskirts of the Iranian capital, Tehran, waiting for a day job. The 27-year-old migrant from neighboring Afghanistan used to find manual work on most days, earning up to 10 million rials
8am: Following the release of a video showing the severe beating of two elderly men by Taliban fighters, the Human Rights Activists Union (HRAU) says the footage once again reveals the deeply rooted and systematic nature of Taliban violence. In a statement issued on Monday, May 18, the HRAU said that scenes of attacks on
8am: The Taliban have announced the arrest of a member of the former government’s Public Uprising Forces in Faryab province on charges of possessing weapons and military equipment. This comes amid numerous media reports of arrests, torture, and killings of former security forces and members of the Public Uprising Forces by the Taliban. Click here
Khaama: A coalition of human rights and women’s rights organizations has expressed concern over new marriage-related regulations introduced by the Taliban, warning that the rules could legitimize child marriage and deepen restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link). Related ‘Silence of virgin girl can be treated as consent’:
Afghanistan International: Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban chief justice, warned during a visit to northern Afghanistan that “a system built on oppression cannot survive”, urging Taliban officials to avoid abusing prisoners and detainees. His remarks come despite widespread accusations against the Taliban administration of conducting desert courts, carrying out revenge killings, summary executions, torture and
Afghanistan International: Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, said the Taliban have stripped the Jaafari jurisprudence of official recognition and imposed widespread pressure on the religious practices of Shia Muslims. In a post on Facebook, Mohaqiq said the measures included insults, beatings of Shia clerics and interference in matters related
Khaama: Afghan asylum seekers and human rights activists staged a protest outside Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Berlin on Friday, demanding an end to deportations of Afghan refugees and opposing any cooperation with authorities in Kabul. The protest followed reports by German broadcaster ZDF claiming that representatives linked to Kabul authorities were involved
Amu: Sweeping cuts to US foreign aid in 2025 severely weakened Afghan media organizations operating in exile, forcing some outlets to scale back reporting networks inside Afghanistan, lay off journalists and cancel programs focused on women and human rights, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch said Taliban have cracked
AFP, dpa: The European Commission has invited officials from Afghanistan’s Taliban to discuss the returns of certain migrants. It’s controversial on humanitarian grounds, and because Brussels doesn’t recognize Taliban authority. Click here to read more (external link). Related Hannah Neumann (member of the European Parliament): Deporting Migrants to Afghanistan Contributes to the Spread of Terrorism
Tolo News: The Australian federal government has allocated 43.8 million Australian dollars in this year’s budget to investigate cases related to alleged war crimes committed by the country’s defense forces in Afghanistan. According to reports, the investigations are linked to incidents involving Australian forces in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. The Daily Mail reported that