The Taliban have barred United Nations-appointed special rapporteur Richard Bennett from entering Afghanistan, the administration’s spokesperson said, accusing the human rights watchdog of “spreading propaganda”.
The Taliban administration’s foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said that Bennett “had been unable to acquire a travel visa to Afghanistan”.
“Even after repeatedly requesting Mr Bennett to adhere to professionalism during work … it was decided that … his reports are based on prejudices and anecdotes detrimental to interests of Afghanistan and the Afghan people,” Balkhi said.
Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has previously said the Taliban respects women’s rights under its interpretation of Islamic law and local customs.
He said that Bennett would not be allowed to come to Afghanistan, a rare public barring of an individual foreign official.
“Mr Bennett’s travel to Afghanistan has been prohibited because he was assigned to spread propaganda in Afghanistan… He used to exaggerate minor issues and propagate them,” Mujahid said, according to Tolo.
Bennett was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) in 2022 to monitor Afghanistan’s human rights situation after the Taliban took over the previous year.
Bennett, who has previously said the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls could amount to a crime against humanity, is based outside Afghanistan but has visited several times to research the situation.
The UN Human Rights Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bennett could not immediately be reached for comment.
Three years into their rule after foreign forces withdrew, the Taliban have not been formally recognized by any foreign government.
