The Taliban have banned a UN-appointed monitor of Afghanistan’s human rights situation from entering the country.
A source linked to the Islamist group revealed the move to NHK on Wednesday. The source said the UN special rapporteur, Richard Bennett, has been giving “one-sided” reports on the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The source accused him of trying to hoodwink the international community by spreading “malicious propaganda.”
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan three years ago. The group has severely restricted female rights to education and employment. Girls are only allowed to go to elementary school, while women are barred from working for UN agencies or NGOs.
Bennett earlier pointed out that many Afghans say the situation can be best described as “gender apartheid.” He strongly urged the Taliban interim government to improve the situation.
Taliban officials insist that the issue of female rights is an internal matter.